Wiping material and holder

A wiping material in the shape of a cup and a handle for holding the material during its use. The wiping material may include several layers with the same or different compositions. For hygienic use, it may have a layer of soft, absorbent toilet paper with, perhaps, an innermost layer of a moisture-impermeable material. The handle typically fits inside of and grasps onto the cup-shaped wipe. Conveniently, a compressible sponge on the end of the handle and slightly larger than the inside of the wiping material retains the material for use. The handle may also eject the wipe after such use. A plunger connects to a shaft in the handle which in turn connects to a washer or some other surface near the sponge. Depressing the plunger moves the cone of material off the sponge where it may fall into some receptacle. A spring within the handle biases the plunger and shaft back into its former position. Utilizing the combination involves placing the handle next to the cone of material and connecting the two together. Moving the handle then allows the web of material to contact and treat the desired surface. Subsequently, the web disengages from the handle, preferably without contacting the wiping material itself.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Rolled toilet paper has found generally universal acceptance in the 
civilized world for the usual hygienic purposes. On occasion, various 
public facilities have instead employed separate sheets of paper. In any 
event, the use of such wiping material generally involves placing together 
several layers of the particular material. The individual then places the 
multi-layered wad of paper in contact with the portion of the anatomy 
requiring cleansing. The movement of the paper in a generally linear 
direction hopefully effects removal of most of the undesired detriments to 
cleanliness. The paper itself, of course, provides the sole barricade 
between such contaminants and the individual's hand and fingers. 
The above procedure, though universally used, suffers from a plethora of 
undesirable and disturbing shortcomings. Yet, it continues to plague the 
mass of civilized humanity committed to its use. 
Much of the paper used during the hygiene procedures does not actually 
cleanse the desired area. Most of its serves a different purpose, if any 
at all. For example, a portion of the paper simply allows the hand to hold 
it. Much of the paper attempts to shield the rest of the hand, although 
not involved in holding the paper, from the filth involved. A good portion 
of the paper has no use, but rather results from the requirements or 
desire to place it in the cylindrical roll form. Moreover, a part of the 
paper employed simply provides some assurance to the user of sufficient 
layers to prevent its breaking at an impropitious moment. 
The use of an amount of material vastly in excess of that required becomes 
even more burdensome in these days of shortages of paper fiber. 
Nonetheless, the waste of a large fraction of the paper made into this 
form continues. 
Even with an abundance of the paper material, the many layers can, on 
occasion, saturate with moisture and rupture. This allows contaminants to 
attack the hand and the surrounding clothing of the individual involved. 
Even without tearing, some contaminants can escape around the side of the 
paper to dirty the individual's hands and clothing. 
The problems alluded to above represent, at best, a major inconvenience for 
a person cleaning himself. For an individual attending to another, such as 
an infant or an invalid, the undesirable aspects of the situation become 
intolerable. 
Situations other than hygienic cleansing also require wiping with various 
materials. The cleaning or polishing of inanimate objects represents one 
such use of material. However, the cloth or other material employed in 
these circumstances again generally takes the form of a flat sheet. While 
the thumb and the palm of the hand attempt to hold onto it, the fingers 
attempt to use its remaining portion for the intended job. Again, the 
procedure uses an excess amount of material than that actually needed. 
Moreover, the material may degenerate or tear leaving the fingers exposed 
to undesirable substances. In addition, the fingers may be too large or 
lack the shape for the task at hand, such as cleaning the interstitial 
spaces of an automobile grill. 
As the foregoing discussion shows, people have suffered through the use of 
toilet paper and other wiping materials for extended periods and to an 
umlimited degree. Nonetheless, the serious severe problems inherent in 
their use remain to this day. Providing a solution to these problems would 
hold the prospect of benefitting untold numbers of people. 
SUMMARY 
Holding the wiping material with an appliance rather than a person's hand 
obviates many, if not all, of the difficulties associated with the latter. 
To accomplish its objective, the appliance should have some form of handle 
which a person may hold. It should also possess a grasping device coupled 
or connected to the handle to retain the web of wiping material in a fixed 
position relative to the handle. The appliance may also include a removing 
device to effectuate the disengagement of the web of cleaning material 
after its use. 
The material itself may take most any form. However, additional benefits 
accrue where it assumes the shape of a cup. This allows an appropriately 
sized and shaped appliance to fit inside of the wiping material and 
support and hold onto it at that location. The outside of the material 
remains free to perform its desired function. The removing device may 
similarly operate upon the inside of the cup-shaped web of wiping material 
to remove it from the appliance. This arrangement dispenses with any need 
whatsoever for touching the outside of the material after its use. 
The cup-shaped web may, furthermore, include several layers of material 
held together in some fashion. Each layer may have the same composition as 
the others. For example, for hygienic uses, each layer may be formed from 
soft toilet paper. Alternatively, the layers may have different 
compositions. For example, for hygienic uses again, the innermost layer 
may possess moisture impermeability. This would prevent liquid waste from 
passing through the entire web to soil the appliance itself. 
As one specific form, the appliance may include an elongated handle having 
a compressible sponge connected to its end. The sponge should have an 
uncompressed size somewhat larger than the bottom of the inside of the web 
of material. Placing the sponge into the cup of material compresses it. 
Due to its natural resiliancy, it then pushes outwardly against the inside 
of the web of material and holds it in place through friction. 
The removing device may take the form of a plunger attached to the end of 
the handle away from the sponge. The plunger connects to a shaft inside 
the handle. The shaft terminates, at its other end, in a surface which can 
contact a web of material on the appliance. Depressing the plunger causes 
the surface to move the web of material off the sponge and out of 
engagement with the appliance. The handle may also include a spring to 
force the plunger out of the handle. Alternatively, placing a new web of 
material on the sponge may move the plunger back to its extended position. 
The appliance considerably reduces the amount of material required for the 
usual tasks. The need for the excess to protect the entire hand and to 
provide a portion to fit between the thumb and the rest of the hand for 
holding disappears. The material for actually wiping or treating the 
surface represents the only amount necessary. 
Moreover, the appliance removes the hand from near the surface receiving 
treatment or cleaning. This reduces the likelihood of soiling the hand or 
possibly the cuff of a shirt or blouse. 
Further advantages result from the use of a moisture-impermeable layer, 
such as polyethylene, on the inside of a cup of material. For example, it 
may allow the use of a solution to wash an area rather than merely dry 
wiping it, as customary now. 
The cup-shaped material with its appliance may conveniently apply 
medication to various portions of the body. The cone of material may 
acquire the medication either by dipping into it or having some placed on 
its exterior. Applying the medication to the needing area represents a 
very simple and straight forward task. Using toilet paper, in comparison, 
presents an almost insurmountable task both in applying medication to the 
paper and then to the anatomy. People frequently dispense with such paper 
altogether. 
The sponge on the appliance supporting the wiping material can provide a 
soft cushion and result in less abrasion or irritation to the affected 
area. Moreover, the cone of paper on this cushion generally has a smoother 
surface than the currently employed wad of toilet paper taken from a roll. 
For this reason too, it will tend to abrade less the sensitive portions of 
the anatomy involved. This becomes particularly advantageous to persons 
having minor but sensitive abnormalities in that particular area. The 
paper may even have a softer construction than the usual toilet paper 
since it need not withstand the force of fingers pushing against it. 
The wiping material may also have different compositions, sizes and shapes 
depending upon the particular need. For example, a smaller cone of 
material and a smaller applicator may possess greater suitability for an 
infant than for an adult. It can also find particular use in cleaning 
areas not readily reached by the hand. For example, a square appliance 
with square wiping material may treat inanimate surfaces with small 
corners such as the grill work of an automobile or the spokes of a wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In FIG. 1 appears generally an appliance 11 for holding the cup-shaped web 
of material 12. The appliance 11 includes the elongated cylinder 13 which 
acts as its handle. From one end of the handle 13 extends the plunger 14 
which effectuates the removal of the cone 12 from the appliance 11. 
Attached to the other end of the handle 13 lies the sponge 15, part of 
which appears outside of the top edge of the web 12 in FIG. 1. The cross 
sectional view of FIG. 2 shows the full extent of the sponge 15. As shown 
there, the sponge 15 attaches to the end 16 of the handle 13. A suitable 
adhesive may join the two together. Alternatively, the handle 13 may run 
through the inside of the entire length of the sponge 15 for a more secure 
union between the two. 
The handle 13 itself takes the shape of a hollow cylinder. Through it 
passes the shaft 20 which rigidly connects at one of its ends to the 
plunger 14. The spring 21 extends between the end 16 of the handle 13 and 
the plunger 14 to bias the latter to the right in FIG. 2. The projections 
22 on the plunger 14 extend through the elongated openings 23 in the 
handle 13. The abutting of the projections 14 against the rearward limit 
of the openings 23 prevents the total egress of the plunger 14 from the 
handle 13. 
Depressing the plunger 14 into the handle 13 moves it to the left, as FIG. 
3 shows. The shaft 20, at its left end, terminates at the washer 25 which 
the screw 26 holds to it. Consequently, the motion of the shaft 20 to the 
left causes the washer 25 and the screw 26 to move in that direction. As 
they do, they contact the cup-shaped web of material 12 and move it to the 
left relative to the sponge 15. Eventually, the sponge will no longer 
press against the sides of the cone 12. At this point the cone 12 
disengages from the sponge 15 and, thus, the appliance 11. 
Many materials suffice for the appliance 11. It should possess sufficient 
rigidity to allow the appliance 11 to support the cup-shaped material 12 
during the wiping, cleaning, or polishing operation undertaken. For the 
handle 13, a rigid plastic or even a stiff cardboard material will perform 
satisfactorily. The same type of material will suffice for the plunger 14 
and the shaft 20. Additionally, the shaft 20 may have a composition of 
wood. The screw 26 and the shaft 20 may be formed from a metal or plastic, 
as examples of suitable materials. 
After the washer 25 and the screw 26 has removed a web 12 from the sponge 
15, the operator removes his finger or thumb from the plunger 14. At this 
point, the extensive force on the spring 21, operating between the end 16 
of the handle 13 and the plunger 14 forces the plunger 14 to its extended 
position. This motion of the plunger also takes the shaft 20, the washer 
25, and the screw 26 back to the position shown in FIG. 2. 
However, the appliance 11 can perform satisfactorily without the spring 21. 
In this case, the shaft 20, the washer 25, and the screw 26, after 
discarding a web of material 12, will remain extended from the end of the 
sponge 15. However, inserting the appliance 11 into a further cone of 
material 12 forces these elements and the plunger 14 back to the right, 
the position of FIG. 2. 
The web of wiping material has an overall cone or cup-shaped as shown in 
cross section in FIGS. 2 and 3 and from the exterior in FIG. 4. The bottom 
31 of the cup 12 connects to the side 32. The side 32, in turn, terminates 
at the outside edge 33. The inside of the side 32 is smaller at its bottom 
34, where it joins the bottom 31, than at its top 35 near the ridge 33. 
Moreover, the inside of the side 32 tapers from the bottom 34 to the top 
35. 
This arrangement proves particularly convenient for inserting the appliance 
11 into the cone of material 12. As the insertion begins, the sponge's end 
38 furthest from the handle 13 enters the web 12 readily since it has a 
dimension about the same as the web's top 35. As the sponge 15 further 
enters the cone 12, its end 33 compresses due to the inwardly sloping 
inside wall 32 of the web 12. When fully inserted into the web 12, the 
sponge 15 has undergone substantial compression especially near its distal 
end 38. The compressed sponge at this point exerts an appreciable lateral 
force against the inside of the side 32. This force, along with the soft, 
somewhat tacky character of the exterior of the sponge 15, creates a 
frictional force between the sponge 15 and the web 12. This force keeps 
the cone 12 properly positioned on the appliance 11. 
When a sponge holds the web of material 12, its size should permit its 
facile insertion into the web. Preferably, its uncompressed size should at 
least enter the top 35 of the web 12 without substantial compression. To 
retain the web 12 in place, the sponge's distal end 38 should generally 
have an uncompressed size substantially larger than the inside of the 
bottom 34 of the side 32. The resulting compression of the sponge 15 
creates the frictional force against the side 32 of the web 12 to retain 
it in place. 
However, other shapes could work for both the web 12 and the sponge 15. For 
example, the sponge's end 41 near the handle 13 may have edges parallel to 
the handle 13 with the distal end 35 tapering inward as in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
The top portion 35 of the cone 12 may curve inwardly, rather than tapering 
outwardly. This would effectuate a slight grabbing of the sponge 15 by the 
outside end 35 of the web 12. 
The web 12 may have a single layer of material as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 
4. Alternatively, several layers adhered together may provide a superior 
product for various applications. For use in personal hygiene, smooth, 
soft, and absorbent toilet paper will function satisfactorily for these 
layers. 
FIG. 5 shows part of a web 12 having two layers 42 and 43 of different 
composition. Again, for hygienic use, the outer layer 43 may consist of 
toilet paper or some other similar absorbent material. The innermost layer 
42, however, may have a moisture-impermeable composition. This inner layer 
42 would then protect the sponge 15 from contamination due to dirt with a 
liquid component passing through the web 12. If desired, the web 12 may 
include several layers of either or both materials shown for the inner 
layer 42 and the outer layer 43. It may also include one or more layers of 
a third composition. 
The cone of material 12 may display various colors or designs where the 
intended use would suggest some decoration. Certainly, its use in the 
bathroom or for an infant would indicate such pleasing aspects. 
Furthermore the size and shape of the appliance 11 and the cup 12 admit of 
variations for different uses. By way of example, they may have a smaller 
size for an infant than for an adult. 
The moisture-impermeable layer 42 may also allow the use of the web 12 with 
such solutions as cleaning or moisturizing solutions without fear of them 
soiling the sponge 15. The inner layer 42 may also have sufficient 
strength to allow a very soft outer layer 43 which can avoid the 
discomfiture that a stiffer material would cause an individual. 
FIG. 6 shows the end of an appliance 50 very similar to the appliance 11 of 
FIG. 1. The handle 51, however, has the table-like platform extending 
laterally where it adjoins the sponge 15. This projection 52 simply gives 
further support to the sponge 15 during its insertion into a web of 
material 12.