Devices and methods to maintain personal hygiene while using the toilet

Abstract

A container holds an absorbent pad which contains fluids for cleansing toilet facilities before using them, or for cleansing or moisturizing a person's body after using a toilet. One carries one or more such containers on one's person. To use the container one opens it and expresses fluid from the pad onto dry clean toilet paper by pressing that toilet paper onto the pad. One then uses the now moist toilet paper to clean a toilet seat, or to clean or moisturize one's person or the person of another. Then one disposes of the now used toilet paper as one normally disposes of toilet paper.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a) a container which spatially encloses a hollow enclosure; b) a reservoir which: <i> comprises an object made of absorbent material adapted to hold a fluid; <ii> resides in said hollow enclosure of said container; and <iii> has the property that when some other absorbent object is pressed against said reservoir then the fluid held in the reservoir transfers from the reservoir to said other absorbent object; c) the fluid held in said reservoir and comprising a plurality of substances drawn from the following set: <i> soaps; <ii> detergents; <iii> disinfectants; <iv> deodorants; <v> analgesics; <vi> antiseptics; <vi> antibiotics; <vii> lubricants; <viii> emollients; and <ix> perfumes; where: e) an interior of the container has a fill mark, where said fill mark is visible to a person; said fill mark being adapted to indicate the maximum level up to which the container may be filled such that the reservoir, when dry, placed thereafter in said container will completely absorb said fluid; and where said fill mark directs a person to fill said container with said fluid up to its level and no higher; thereby warning said person not to overfill said container; f) said container has an aperture which is covered by a lid where: <i> said lid is adapted to be opened and closed manually; <ii> when said lid is closed said enclosure is leak-resistant for fluids and said container entirely contains said reservoir; <iii> when said lid is open said aperture exposes all or some fraction of a surface area of said reservoir; wherein the apparatus is configured to permit a user to carry said fluid on their person.

2. The container of claim 1 having a plurality of qualities drawn from the following set: b) having on its surface visual markings; c) having on its surface writing; and d) having on its surface embossments.

3. The reservoir of claim 1 having a plurality of qualities drawn from the following set: b) having on its surface visual markings; c) having on its surface writing; and d) having on its surface embossments.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 where said container has a section that separates from the rest of said container, providing external exposure to the enclosure which holds said reservoir; such that when said section is separate from the rest of said container, said reservoir is able to travel into and out of said enclosure without deforming from its manufactured shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) In these figures things are numbered as follows: 101-199base enclosure 201-299closure lid 301-399sealing features 401-499absorbent pad 501-599marking and identification features 601-699auxiliary features 701-799chamber 801-899aperture 901-999choke point 1001-1099pocket 1201-1299extension 1501-1599fill mark

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplar of the first embodiment. A rectangular container (111) has a chamber (711) with a lid (211) that is adapted to be opened with one hand holding the container body and a digit of the other hand pushing an inflexible lip extending from the lid (1201). When the lid is closed the rim of the lid (312) seals against the rim of the container (311) to form a leak-resistant seal. The lid attaches to the body by a hinge (213) and may latch shut when closed.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a the same exemplar of the first embodiment as FIG. 1. Now a pad (401) is inside the chamber. A choke point (901) prevents pad (401) from coming out. The container body (101) and lid (201) are shown as well.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a variant embodiment, the variation being the container (121) has two chambers. One of these chambers (721) is visible with no pad in it. This chamber (721) has its lid (221) visible, with rim (322) that matches the rim on the chamber (321). The hinge (222) of this rim is visible. The aperture (821) shows where the pad will be visible. The other chamber is not visible but has its lid (222) open.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the same exemplar as FIG. 3 but with pad (421) in the visible chamber. The choke point (921) keeps it in place. The lip on the chamber (321) is visible. The container (121) connects to the lid (221) of the visible chamber.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the first embodiment where the container has two chambers, and one chamber has a toilet paper pocket (1022) on its lid (223). The space inside this pocket (1023) is shown empty but is adapted to hold toilet paper sheets.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a variant of the first embodiment where the container (121) has two chambers, and a design (522) is embossed on one lid (221). The pad (421) has embossed on it a design (521).

(8) FIG. 7 shows a variant of the first embodiment where the container (111) has a fill line (1501) in its chamber (711) which is visible when the lid (211) is open.

(9) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the second embodiment where the container (131) has the internal sleeve (231) slide out. When the internal sleeve is shut the lip of the container (331) will touch the lip of the internal sleeve (332) to form a leak-resistant seal. The end of the internal sleeve (232) is adapted to be manually grabbed by the user to push the internal sleeve into or out of the container. The choke point (931) will keep a pad in the chamber (731) from falling out through the aperture (831).

(10) FIG. 9 shows the same embodiment as FIG. 8 but with the pad (431) in the chamber.

(11) FIG. 10 shows an embodiment where the face (241) is separable from the rest of the container (141). The face (641) includes an opening, the aperture (841) and also a lid for the aperture (241).

(12) FIG. 11 shows the same embodiment as FIG. 10. Here the face (641) with its aperture (841) is shown separated from the rest of the container (141), and the pad (441) fits inside the chamber (344). The lid (241) has its edge (341) mate with the edge of the rest of the container (342) to form a leak-resistant seal. And the edge of the face (343) mates to the edge of the rest of the container (344) to form a leak-resistant seal. When removed the face (341) reveals an opening, the window (642).

THE FIRST EMBODIMENT

(13) In some embodiments the user carries three small, leak-resistant flat rectangular containers, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Each container is square and 2.0 inches to a side, and 0.5 inches in thickness. In some other embodiments the dimensions and the shapes of said containers vary.

(14) Each such container (121) contains a resilient, absorbent (401) in its chamber (701). This pad acts as a non-free state fluid reservoir for water or some other fluid. In each container a 90% of the area of one face of the contained pad is visible and presented through an aperture when the user opens the container by lifting the lip (1201) of the lid (211). The lid attaches to the container by a hinge (213). When the container is closed the edge of the chamber (311) forms a leak-resistant seal with edge of the lid (312).

(15) Container

(16) A container is either open or closed. When it is open the pad inside is exposed to being touched by other objects. When it is closed the pad inside is not thus exposed. When a container is closed the volume it encloses is leak-resistant.

(17) Absorbent Pad

(18) The absorbent pad, or pad, bears special note. It is sufficiently elastic and resilient that the user may pull it out of its chamber in the container through the aperture, and similarly replace it inside the container through the aperture, but when force and pressure are no longer applied to the absorbent pad to compress it in a manner allowing its extraction through the aperture then it returns to its manufactured shape. The manufactured shape of the absorbent pad is made to fit snugly inside the container. The absorbent pad retains this manufactured shape by friction controlled by lateral compression of the pad within the container, against the inner walls of its chamber. Once deformed the absorbent pad no longer possesses its manufactured shape. However, pressing against the absorbent pad through the aperture, rather than pulling it, deforms it in such a manner that it remains laterally compressed against the inner walls of its chamber, or additionally and concurrently constrained in place by geometric constraints, by compression of the pad, or by both.

(19) Geometric Constraints

(20) In some embodiments the absorbent pad in its manufactured shape cannot fall out of the container because its geometry will not allow itit is too large to come out through the aperture, in all of its degrees of freedom within the chamber. The pad is prevented from fully exiting the container by at least one choke point, defined as a geometric constraint preventing the pad from fully exiting the chamber without deforming the pad.

(21) To be mathematically precise: In the open path between the chamber of the container which contains the pad, and the exterior of the container at the aperture of that chamber, up to and including the aperture; a choke point is some planar region A of that open path such that for all possible positions of the pad in its manufactured shape and contained in the chamber, there exists a cross-section B of the pad parallel to A, such that there exists C, some non-null region of B, such that the projection of C onto the plane of A falls outside A. So C is prevented from passing through the aperture at A without deforming the geometries of the pad or the container.

(22) In some embodiments the pad combines absorbent features with differing shape and material properties for purposes of retention, identification, extraction or facilitating manufacturing and assembly.

(23) In some embodiments there is a choke point at the aperture itself. In some embodiments there is a choke point on the open path between the chamber and the aperture. In all such cases such a choke point prevents the pad from exiting the chamber without modifying the shape of the pad, e.g. by deforming or mutilating it.

(24) Compression of the Pad

(25) In its use-state form, which is its manufactured shape, the pad holds fluid. Applying pressure to the pad by impinging on it through the aperture reduces the pad volume to a volume smaller than its manufactured volume. Doing so expresses some portion of the fluid held in the pad, into the free space in the chamber and onto the surface applying pressure on the pad. If the user places the dry pad in fluid, or pours fluid on the pad, the pad absorbs the fluid by capillary action. The user may hasten this process by compressing the dry pad into a smaller than manufactured volume and then either placing it in fluid, or pouring fluid over it; as the pad reverts to its manufactured shape and volume it absorbs fluid. The user may also forcibly remove fluid from the pad by compressing it, thereby expelling the fluid it holds.

(26) When the pad holds an appropriate volume of fluid and no pressure is applied to the pad then the pad expresses little or no fluid. When the user compresses some volume of the pad, then that volume of the pad expels fluid through all of its surfaces. If the pad is inside its container the container prevents the fluid from escaping except to an object applying pressure to the pad through the aperture, and upon cessation of such pressure the pad eventually reabsorbs any expelled fluid inside the container, apart from traces that may remain as droplets that for any reason fail to touch the pad.

(27) Thus when the user opens the lid to the container and presses toilet paper against the pad that pressure expresses some of the fluid from the pad onto the toilet paper. We call this process moistening the toilet paper on the pad. No other fluid escapes the container and upon removal of the pressure the pad reabsorbs the expelled but not transferred fluid inside the container.

(28) Different Containers

(29) Three different leak-resistant containers are described.

(30) In some embodiments all three containers may be equal in all but details of marking, identification, and the purpose of the fluid in each container. In some embodiments different containers may have different geometries. In any case functionally they may differ only in their contents and the purpose of those contents. Thus they are described as one device. A container is adapted to contain a reservoir comprising an absorbent volume. This reservoir is called a pad, which is adapted to absorb and thus hold a fluid called reservoir fluid. Together the container and the pad are called a kit.

(31) In some embodiments the purpose of the content of the kit is to clean a toilet the container is called the toilet cleaner container, and the pad is called the toilet cleaner pad, and the reservoir fluid is called the toilet cleaner fluid. This toilet cleaner fluid is a fluid used to clean toilet seats and other parts of toilet, such fluids of varied efficacy in killing micro-organisms being well known and understood in the art. Before the user sits down at a toilet seat the user opens this container, takes some toilet paper, and moistens the toilet paper on the toilet cleaner pad. After the user thus moistens this toilet paper, the user applies this toilet paper to the toilet seat and thereby cleans the toilet seat, removing or rendering harmless most or all substances on it, including but not limited to excreta and water.

(32) In some embodiments the purpose of the content of a kit is to cleanse, to disinfect, or to cleanse and to disinfect the affected skin after one uses the toilet, the container is called the skin cleaner container; the pad is called the skin cleaner pad; and the reservoir fluid is called the skin cleaner fluid. This skin cleaner fluid holds water, soap and a mild personal disinfectant, such fluids being well known and understood in the art. After the user finishes using the toilet, the user moistens dry toilet paper on the skin cleaner pad. The user then uses this moist toilet paper to wipe the affected skin, and disposes of the soiled toilet paper in the toilet. the user repeats this process until the affected skin is clean. Then the user closes the skin cleaner container, flushes the toilet and the user is done with this chore.

(33) In some embodiments the purpose of the content of the kit is to moisturize the user's skin the container is called the moisturizer container, the pad is called the moisturizer pad, and the reservoir fluid is called lotion. After the user has used the toilet and cleaned the user's person, the user wets more dry toilet paper or the user's digits on this moisturizer pad. Then the user applies this fluid to the user's person to moisturize the user's skin after cleaning it. Afterwards, if the user has used toilet paper, the user disposes of this used toilet paper as well in the toilet, and flushes it away.

(34) In some embodiments a container holds a fluid that performs more than one of the aforementioned tasks of cleaning a toilet seat or other surface, cleaning affected skin and moisturizing affected skin.

(35) In some embodiments the fluid held in a container contains a component of water. In some embodiments it does not.

(36) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of soap. In some embodiments it does not.

(37) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of detergent. In some embodiments it does not.

(38) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of disinfectant. In some embodiments it does not.

(39) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of deodorant. In some embodiments it does not.

(40) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of analgesic. In some embodiments it does not.

(41) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of antiseptic. In some embodiments it does not.

(42) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of antibiotic. In some embodiments it does not.

(43) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of lubricant. In some embodiments it does not.

(44) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of emollient. In some embodiments it does not.

(45) In some embodiments a fluid held in a container contains a component of perfume. In some embodiments it does not.

(46) Replenishment

(47) In some embodiments when the user has depleted the fluid in the pad in any of these containers, the user may replenish the fluid content of the pad by one of the following methods: The user deforms and pulls the pad out of the container and applies the fluid directly to the pad. Then the user puts the pad back in the container. The user opens the container and pours some volume of fluid directly into the pad, which absorbs it. Then the user closes the container again. The user opens the container and removes the pad from the chamber. Then the user adds a volume of fluid up to the file mark into the chamber. Then the user puts the pad back into the chamber. In some embodiments the interior of the container has visible on it a fill mark, which is a marking visible in the interior of the container and which goes around some or all of the interior of container and is parallel to a flat surface upon which the container rests. By design the fill mark indicates the maximum level to which to fill fluid into the container such that if after adding this volume of fluid to the container the user places a dry or almost dry pad in the container, the pad will absorb all of the fluid in the chamber. In some further embodiments there are two fill marks, indicating a maximum level to fill and a minimum level to fill.

(48) In some embodiments the manufacturer or the user fills or replenishes the fluid in the pad by various means including: adding a particular weight of reservoir fluid to the pad inverting the container and filling the lid, either fully or up to some mark on the lid, with fluid; and then closing the container including the pad to cause absorption expressing reservoir fluid from purposed containers expressing fluid of a fixed volume from a syringe or drip device

(49) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment with a fill mark (1501) visible because the pad is not in the container (111).

(50) EnhancementToilet Paper Pocket

(51) In some embodiments the container also comprises, on its lid or some other exterior surface, a toilet paper pocket on it to carry some sheets of dry toilet paper. If the user wants to perform the functions of this device in a use facility where there is no toilet paper, the user uses the toilet paper from the toilet paper pocket container. Then, when the user has the opportunity, the user replenishes the toilet paper in the toilet paper pocket of the container.

(52) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with a toilet paper pocket (1023) on one lid (222). This toilet paper pocket has a space (223) to hold toilet paper (not shown).

(53) EnhancementVisual and Tactile Cues

(54) In some embodiments the containers and the absorbent pads are coded for identification, by labels, color codes, and Braille or other embossments. Also, in some embodiments different containers have different sizes and shapes. This aids the user in identifying what fluid each chamber in each container contains. Also it helps to prevent the user from mixing up the fluids for the different containers, and from using the wrong fluid for a particular purpose. Such labeling is well known and well understood in the art.

(55) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with markings and embossments (522) on a lid (221) and similar markings and embossments (521) on the pad (421).

(56) EnhancementAttaching the Device

(57) In some embodiments the container is attached to a strap or a cord that the user may loop around an arm or a leg, thus securing the device to one's person. Such straps are well known and well understood in the Art. Thus securing the device precludes the need to set it down on some surface, which itself may not be clean. As the pad does not express fluid by gravity alone, the orientation of the container is irrelevant to its proper function. This independence of orientation distinguishes this invention from one that uses a squeeze bottle or a spray bottle, where orientation of the container would be relevant.

(58) In some other embodiments the container a hook-and-loop mechanism pad on one surface. This mates with a corresponding hook-and-loop mechanism pad on some other surface, such as a backpack. When the user wants to carry the device using this feature, the user first attaches the hook-and-loop pads together, thus securing them. Such hook-and-loop mechanisms are well known and well understood in the art.

(59) EnhancementLids

(60) In some embodiments a lid is child-proof, so that children are less likely to contact inadvertently the fluid inside the container. In other embodiments a lid is not child-proof, for users who do not want a child-proof lid, since they do not contend with children and do not want the extra trouble of dealing with a child-proof lid. Such child-proof lids are well known and well understood in the art.

(61) Also, various options exist for the lid itself. In some embodiments a lid attaches to the rest of the container by a hinge. In some embodiments a lid twists off the rest of the container. In some embodiments a lid attaches to the rest of the container by circumferential compression of the edge of the lid against the edge of the container. In some other embodiments a lid attaches to the rest of the container by some other mechanism. Many such options are well known and well understood in the art.

(62) In some embodiments a lid is retained to the container by a hinge, a leash or a yoke, such mechanisms being well known and well understood in the art.

(63) EnhancementThe Window

(64) In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, one section of the container (141) called the face (641) separates from the rest of the container. This separation provides a gap called a window, which allows geometrically unconstrained access to the interior of a chamber, in that if the face of the container separates from the rest of the container and thus this window is open then there are no choke points between the pad (441) and the exterior of the container. In other words if the window is open then the pad can egress the container without deforming from its manufactured shape. The window attaches to the container when the edge of the window (343) meets the edge of the rest of the container (344) and shuts forming a leak-resistant seal.

(65) In some further embodiments with such a face: In some embodiments the face attaches to the rest of the container by a hinge. In some embodiments the face twists free of the rest of the container. In some embodiments the face attaches to the rest of the container by circumferential compression of the edge of the face against the edge of the container. In some other embodiments the face attaches to the rest of the container by some other mechanism. Many such options are well known and well understood in the art.

(66) In some embodiments a face is attached to the rest of the container by a hinge, a leash or a yoke, such mechanisms being well known and well understood in the art.

(67) In some embodiments an aperture is located on a face. In some embodiments an aperture is not located on a face.

(68) EnhancementCombined Containers

(69) In some embodiments a container has more than one chamber. Typically the different chambers contain pads that hold different fluids. For instance in an embodiment one chamber contains a pad that holds toilet cleaner fluid, and another chamber contains a pad that holds skin cleaner fluid. These chambers do not leak into each other.

(70) FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show an embodiment where a container (121) that has two chambers, one of which is visible (721) and enclosed by a lid (221) which encloses a pad (421).

(71) EnhancementDifferent Venues

(72) In different embodiments containers are adapted to different environments and uses. Some examples of this include: A user takes the kit to a public use facility in a first-world country. The toilet may need cleaning. But there is a low risk of infectious disease. Thus it is not crucial that the toilet cleaner fluid kill all microbes. A user takes the kit to a public use facility in a second-world or third-world country. Here the risk of infectious disease is higher. So the toilet cleaner fluid is adapted to killing most microbes on contact. Such fluids are well known and well understood in the art. A user takes the kit to cleanse his or her child's affected skin. Here the personal cleaner fluid needs to be adapted to cleanse the more sensitive affected skin of a very young child or other special-needs person.

Other Alternatives for the First Embodiment

(73) In some embodiments each kit out of the toilet cleaner kit, the skin cleaner kit, and the moisturizer kit is physically separate. In some other embodiments these kits are physically joined into one object. In some other embodiments two of these kits are physically joined into one object and the third kit is physically separate.

(74) In some embodiments the kits are of the size and dimensions given. In other embodiments the kits are of different shapes and dimensions such that the maximum diameter of a kit is between 0.5 and 8 inches, and the maximum thickness of a kit is between 0.1 and 1.5 inches.

(75) In different embodiments with lids different areal fractions of one face of the absorbent pad are exposed when the lid is open, ranging between 5% and 100%.

(76) In different embodiments with faces different areal fractions of one face of the absorbent pad are exposed when the face is open.

(77) In some embodiments a pad is round. In some other embodiments a pad is rectilinear. In some other embodiments a pad is of some other shape.

(78) In different embodiments a pad has different levels of malleability, from very soft to very stiff.

(79) In some embodiments the pad does not of its own come out of the container due to the existence of a plurality of choke points between the chamber holding the pad and the aperture. This prevents the pad from slipping out of the container on its own even when the lid is open. In some embodiments the choke point is a lip or an undercut around the inner wall of the container. In some embodiments the choke point occurs because the chamber tapers towards the face of the container holding the aperture that exposes the pad; and also the manufactured shape of the pad is similar to that of the container itself, so that when the container contains the pad the pad also tapers towards the aperture. Thus both the container, and pad in all its possible positions within the chamber, have larger cross-sectional areas in some planes parallel to the plane of the aperture, than the aperture itself.

(80) In some embodiments a pad fits snugly inside its chamber. In other embodiments it is loose.

(81) In some embodiments the pad does not of its own come out of a container because the manufactured shape of the pad is larger than the transverse dimensions of the interior of the container, and the pressure the pad exerts upon the walls of the container hold the pad in place.

(82) In some embodiments the pad does not of its own come out of a container because the surfaces of the container that touch the pad, and/or the surfaces of the pad that touch the container, are shaped and/or textured in a way that geometry and/or heightened friction prevent the pad from slipping against the container.

(83) In some embodiments a pad does not of its own come out of a container for some combination of these elements.

(84) In some embodiments the kits are all of the same shape and dimensions. In some other embodiments one of the kits is of a different shape and different dimensions from the other two kits. In some other embodiments all three of the kits are of different shapes and/or dimensions.

(85) Of the three container types presented here; the toilet cleaner container, the skin cleaner container and the moisturizer container: In some embodiments just one of these container types is present. In some other embodiments only two of these container types are present. And in some other embodiments all three of these container types are present.

(86) In some embodiments an absorbent pad is made of foam elastomer. In some other embodiments an absorbent pad is made of cellulose. In some other embodiments an absorbent pad is made of the skeletal structure of an animal of the sponge family, commonly called a sponge. In some other embodiments an absorbent pad is made of some other compressible or resilient absorbent material.

(87) In some embodiments an absorbent pad expands when it absorbs fluid, and in some embodiments it does not. In some embodiments an absorbent pad shrinks when it expresses fluid, and in some embodiments it does not.

(88) The degree of resilience of an absorbent pad varies with different embodiments from soft to stiff. The degree of resilience in all embodiments is such that the user may press toilet paper against a pad and thereby express fluid from that pad onto the toilet paper.

(89) In different embodiments the absorbency of the pad varies as a function of pad material and manufacture.

(90) In some embodiments the container has a leak-resistant lid which hinges open and closed. In some other embodiments the container has a twist-on leak-resistant lid which the user unscrews to open and screws on again to close. In some other embodiments the container has some other kind of leak-resistant lid, such leak-resistant lids being well understood in the art.

(91) In some embodiments a lid of a container has one latch. In some embodiments a lid of a container has more than one latch.

(92) In some embodiments a lid is latched to the rest of its container by friction and mechanical compression of the sealing lips of the container and the lid. In some embodiments a lid is not latched to its container by this method.

(93) In embodiments where a container has more than one chamber: In some such embodiments more than one chamber share a lid. In some such embodiments each chamber has its own separate lid.

(94) In some embodiments a chamber has a face. In some embodiments a chamber has no face.

(95) In some embodiments where a chamber has a face that face is attached to the rest of the container by friction and mechanical compression of the sealing lips of the container and the lid. In some embodiments a face is not attached to the rest of the container by this method.

(96) In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is simply water. In some embodiments the toilet cleaning fluid is a fluid compounded specifically to clean and to disinfect surfaces, such fluids being well understood in the art. In some embodiments the toilet cleaning fluid is some other substance.

(97) In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is simply water. In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is a solution compounded specifically to clean a person's affected skin, and comprises substances drawn from the set of soap, perfumes, and disinfectants. In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is some fluid adapted to cleaning the user's person, such fluids being well understood in the art.

(98) In different embodiments the composition of lotion varies as per individual needs and desires, such lotions being well understood in the art. Such lotions may include substances drawn from the set of moisturizing oils, vitamins and other nutrients, fragrance, and medications.

(99) In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid and the skin cleaner fluid are combined as a single mixture. In some embodiments they are not combined.

(100) In some embodiments the skin cleaner fluid is adapted to use on infants, such fluids being well known and well understood in the art. In some embodiments it is not.

(101) In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is adapted to kill all microbes on contact. In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is not specifically adapted to kill microbes. In some embodiments the toilet cleaner fluid is adapted to kill specific microbes on contact specifically to prevent the spread of particular identified pathogens.

(102) In some embodiments the lid of the container is child-proof, in some other embodiments it is child-resistant, and in some other embodiments it is neither child-proof nor child-resistant. Child-proof and child-resistant caps are well known and well understood in the art.

(103) In some embodiments a lid of the container is twist-off. In other embodiments it is not.

(104) In some embodiments the container has a toilet paper pocket to hold toilet paper. In some embodiments the container has no toilet paper pocket. In some further embodiments the toilet paper pocket is stiff. On other embodiments the toilet paper pocket is flexible. In some embodiments the toilet paper pocket may be closed with a zipper, a plurality of buttons, or some other mechanism, such mechanisms being well understood in the art. In some other embodiments the toilet paper pocket has no such mechanism to seal it.

(105) In some embodiments the container is stiff. In some embodiments the container is flexible. In some embodiments the container is stiff on the outside but contains a flexible inner chamber.

(106) In some embodiments different containers are distinguishable by color. In some other embodiments they are not.

(107) In some embodiments different absorbent pads are distinguishable by color. In some other embodiments they are not.

(108) In some embodiments different containers are distinguishable by writing or other markings. In some other embodiments they are not.

(109) In some embodiments different absorbent pads are distinguishable by writing or other markings. In some other embodiments they are not.

(110) In some embodiments different containers are distinguishable by Braille embossments or other embossments. In some other embodiments they are not.

(111) In some embodiments different absorbent pads are distinguishable by Braille embossments or other embossments. In some other embodiments they are not.

(112) In some embodiments there is a fill mark. In some further embodiments there are two fill marks, one to indicate a maximum level and another to indicate a minimum level to fill. In some other embodiments there is no fill mark.

(113) In some embodiments the fill mark is a line that goes all around the interior of the container. In some other embodiments the fill mark comprises a plurality of disjoint markings on the interior of the container.

(114) In some embodiments the file mark is parallel to the surface on which the container rests. In other embodiments it is not.

(115) In some embodiments the exterior of the container is cylindrical. In some other embodiments the exterior is concave. In some other embodiments the exterior is convex. In some other embodiments it is some other geometric shape.

(116) In some embodiments the user purchases the kit and the fluid separately. In such embodiments the user may use any fluid the user wishes in the kits.

(117) We show these embodiments, environments and uses to be demonstrative and exemplary and not limiting. Embodiments may occur in combination with other apparatuses, some part of which function as this invention. Many and unlimited variations of this invention may arise without departing from its spirit, or sacrificing its advantages.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

(118) Another embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, has the same functionality as the first embodiment. However, instead of a rectangular container with an opening that contains a pad, an internal sleeve (231) slides out of the container (131). The internal sleeve holds the pad (431) in its chamber (731). The container has a rim (332) that mates with the rim of the internal sleeve (332) to form a leak-resistant seal. The internal sleeve has a choke point (931) which prevents the pad from coming out of the internal sleeve without deforming.

(119) To use the pad the user grasps the head of the internal sleeve (232) and slides the internal sleeve out of the container. When the internal sleeve reaches the full extent of its travel it latches into place due to a detent mechanism (not shown) not requiring anything but applied force in the closing vector to accomplish closure and sealing, such detent mechanisms being well understood in the art. Thus once the user pulls the internal sleeve out to the full extent of its travel the internal sleeve does not move from this position unless the user applies some force to push the internal sleeve back into the container.

(120) Once the internal sleeve is fully extended the user applies toilet paper to the pad inside the internal sleeve, exactly as the user does for the first embodiment.

Alternatives for the Second Embodiment

(121) In some embodiments the internal sleeve has a detent mechanism. In some other embodiments the internal sleeve does not.

(122) In different embodiments with internal sleeves different areal fractions of one face of the absorbent pad are exposed when the internal sleeve is open, ranging between 5% and 100%.

(123) In some embodiments there is some mechanical force potential inside the internal sleeve such as a spring naturally pushing it out. In some other embodiments there is not.

(124) In some embodiments the internal sleeve is stiff. In some other embodiments the internal sleeve is flexible, and in such embodiments the user may squeeze the extended internal sleeve to express fluid directly from the internal sleeve and the contained resilient pad without pressing toilet paper directly onto the resilient pad. This is similar in spirit and design to a squeeze-bottle bag. The fluid is prevented from being expressed when the internal sleeve is secured completely within the stiff container.

(125) Apart from the opening mechanism for the container: All of the properties of the first embodiment, and all of the alternatives of the first embodiment, also apply to the second embodiment.

(126) Again we show these embodiments, environments and uses to be demonstrative and exemplary and not limiting. Embodiments may occur in combination with other apparatuses, some part of which function as this invention. Many and unlimited variations of this invention may arise without departing from its spirit, or sacrificing its advantages.

Advantages

(127) This approach has several advantages both over what people normally do, and over the prior art.

(128) One advantage of this approach is that the small rectangular container may be sized to fit in the user's pocket, purse, suitcase or backpack; the user may have it on the user's person at all times.

(129) Second, the container-plus-pad approach has advantages over a bottle for carrying fluid in that if the seal on the bottle fails the bottle will naturally leak in some positions, but even if the seal on the container fails when the pad is inside the container, the pad will not naturally express fluid unless force and compression act on it. Therefore even if the container breaks mechanically the fluid contents will not naturally flow out, although in such a container fluid may leak over time. Also in the situation where the user has access to no toilet paper at all, the user can pull out the pad itself from the container and use it to clean in lieu of toilet paper, as is the case with a pre-moistened wipe. This is impossible with a bottle.

(130) Third, this approach enables the user to use the toilet paper the user finds in nearly all toilet areas, without having to carry around the user's own pre-moistened wipes. Thus the approach is universal. The user may use it whenever and wherever the user uses the toilet. And in those containers the user does not find toilet paper, the user carries the user's own toilet paper.

(131) Fourth, moistening toilet paper with fluid leads to the user being able to clean the toilet seat, and the user's person, more thoroughly that is possible with just dry toilet paper.

(132) Fifth, using the commonly occurring toilet paper, which is known to degrade quickly in water, is better for sewage systems than using pre-moistened wipes which are manufactured to survive remaining moist without degrading and therefore do not degrade in sewage systems, thereby clogging those sewage systems.

(133) Sixth, the container and pad are economic and easy to manufacture. And the various fluids to fill the container already exist. So manufacturing these complete kits will be trivial. This enhances the merchantability of this approach.

(134) Seventh, this method allows the user to start with a fresh piece of dry toilet paper for each different operation. And the containers are leak-resistant from each other. So this method lowers the possibility of cross-contaminating skin contact between different fluids and substances, from the containers, from the toilet, or from the user.

(135) The first embodiment has the advantage over the second embodiment that it is simpler to manufacture, having fewer mechanical parts, and also for the same reason less prone to break in is use functionality, and thus remain intact in its use.

CONCLUSION

(136) One skilled in the art will see that the uses and sequences of usage of the described invention are many, and that the embodiments shown are not limiting but rather representative of many other uses to which one may put this invention.

(137) All in all this invention will make life easier, cheaper, cleaner and more hygienic for users of toilets, since they may clean themselves more thoroughly with minimal effort. And it will be a boon to sewage systems, since it will encourageby lower cost than pre-moistened wipes, by higher availability than pre-moistened wipes, and by a broader choice of fluids than pre-moistened wipes provideenabling those toilet users to employ fluids selected for use and existing toilet paper, which breaks down in a sewage system, rather than prepackaged pre-moistened wipes which do not have these advantages.