Abstract:
A sanitizing device having a first tubular housing and a second tubular housing is provided. The first and second tubular housing are coupled together, and are disposed along a common axis when coupled together. The first tubular housing includes a sanitizing member. The sanitizing member may be formed of any material configured to apply a solution, such as a moist paper material treated with a disinfectant. The second tubular housing includes a drying member. The drying member may be from any material known to absorb moisture such as a sponge, a cloth, disposable paper or a synthetic material. The drying member may be further treated with a fragrance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/775,827 filed on Mar. 11, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to sanitizing device for sanitizing surfaces available for public use. More particularly the sanitizing device is a portable device having a first tubular housing and a second tubular housing. The first tubular housing includes a sanitizing member, and the second tubular housing includes a drying member. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For many people it is frequently necessary to use toilets in public buildings and businesses which are used by many other people. Frequently there is concern about the sanitary condition of the toilet seats in such facilities. Accordingly, thin paper toilet seat covers are provided. These covers are disposable. However, if the toilet seat is wet, moisture quickly soaks through the thin paper cover. Additionally, the covers are hard to use and dispose of. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0004]    A sanitizing device having a first tubular housing and a second tubular housing is provided. The first and second tubular housing are coupled together, and are disposed along a common axis when coupled together. The first tubular housing includes a sanitizing member. The sanitizing member may be formed of any material configured to apply a solution such as a moist paper material treated with a disinfectant. The second tubular housing includes a drying member. The drying member may be a cloth or a disposable paper material configured to absorb moisture. The drying member may be a swab, and the swab may be made from any material known to absorb moisture such as a sponge, paper, cotton or a synthetic material. The drying member may be further treated with a fragrance. 
         [0005]    In a first preferred embodiment, the first tubular housing and the second tubular housing each include a distal end opposite an open end. The first and second tubular housing are configured to be seated together. For example, the first tubular housing may include a recess portion formed at the open end, and the second tubular housing may include an insertion portion formed at the open end. The insertion portion is dimensioned to fit within the recess portion so as to seat the first tubular housing and second tubular housing together. Accordingly, the first and second tubular housing may be coupled together and slid away from each other for use. 
         [0006]    In the first preferred embodiment, the sanitizing device includes a pair of disks. One disk is slidably disposed within the first tubular housing and the other disk is slidably disposed within the second tubular housing. The drying member and the sanitizing member are disposed within the respective first and second tubular housing between the pair of disks. The disks may be pushed towards the open end so as to push the drying or sanitizing member out of the respective first and second tubular housing and avail the drying member and sanitizing member for use. 
         [0007]    In a second preferred embodiment, the sanitizing device includes an outer tubular housing. The outer tubular housing includes a pair of open ends. The first tubular housing and the second tubular housing are dimensioned to fit slidingly within the outer tubular housing. The first tubular housing and the second tubular housing are slidable with respect to each other within the outer tubular housing along a common axis. 
         [0008]    In a third preferred embodiment the first and second tubular housing are coupled together at proximate ends so as to form a unitary unit. The sanitizing device includes a partition disposed between the first tubular housing and a second tubular housing. The first tubular housing is separable from the second tubular housing along the partition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the sanitizing device showing the first tubular housing coupled to the second tubular housing; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sanitizing device of  FIG. 1 , showing the recessed portion of an open end and the insertion portion of an open end of the first and second tubular housing; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the sanitizing device of  FIG. 2 , showing the drying member and sanitizing member pushed forward of a corresponding open end of the respective first and second tubular housing; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the sanitizing device of  FIG. 2  taken along line  4 - 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sanitizing device of the second preferred embodiment in a package with the elongated member being shown in broken lines; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the elongated member of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top down view of the elongated member of  FIG. 6  showing the slot; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the third preferred embodiment of the sanitizing device showing the partition. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    As shown in Figures, a novel sanitizing device  10  includes a sanitizing member  12  and drying member  14  which may be provided in an airtight package  16 . The sanitizing device  10  may be dimensioned so as to be held within a user&#39;s hand. The sanitizing device may be sold off the shelf at a store or found within a vending machine. The sanitizing device  10  includes a first tubular housing  18  and a second tubular housing  20 .  FIGS. 1-4  show the first and second tubular housing  18 ,  20  formed as separate pieces, whereas  FIGS. 5-8  illustrate that first and second tubular housing  18 ,  20  may be formed as a single unit. The first tubular housing  18  includes the sanitizing member  12 , and the second tubular housing  20  includes the drying member  14 . 
         [0019]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a first preferred embodiment of a sanitizing device  10  is provided. The first tubular housing  18  and the second tubular housing  20  each include a distal end opposite an open end  18   a ,  20   a . The sanitizing device  10  includes a recess portion  44  and an insertion portion  46 . The insertion portion  46  is dimensioned to fit within the recess portion  44  so as to couple the first tubular housing  18  and second tubular housing  20  together. 
         [0020]    Though  FIGS. 1-4  show the recess portion  44  formed on the second tubular housing  20 , and the insertion portion  46  formed on the first tubular housing  18 , it should be appreciated that the insertion portion  46  may be formed on the second tubular housing  20  and the recess portion  44  may be formed on the first tubular housing  18 . Thus, one of either the first tubular housing  18  or the second tubular housing  20  includes the recess portion  44  formed at the open ends  20   a ,  20   b , and the other of either the first tubular housing  18  or the second tubular housing  20  includes the insertion portion  46  formed at the open end  20   a ,  20   b.    
         [0021]    The first tubular housing  18  may hold the sanitizing member  12  and the second tubular housing  20  may hold the drying member  14 . The free ends of the tubular portions are open so to provide access to disks  48  which are pushed to expose the sanitizing member  12  and drying member  14  when the two tubular housings  18 ,  20  are separated, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first and second tubular housings  18 ,  20  may be of any cross sectioned shape but in the preferred embodiment, the tubular housings  18 ,  20  are shown with a circular cross section. The first tubular housing  18  has an insertion portion  46  which is formed to be snug within a recess portion  44  of the second tubular housing  20 . The recess portion  44  includes a step  48  extending radially inward from an inner wall surface. The insertion portion  46  includes an outer wall  46   a  dimensioned to snugly fit within the inner wall  44   a  surface of the recess portion  44 . A distal peripheral edge of the insertion portion  46  is configured to abut against the step  48  of the recess portion  44  so as to seat the first tubular housing  18  with the second tubular housing  20 . 
         [0022]    The free end of the first tubular housing  18  and second tubular housing  20  include a second opening  18   b ,  20   b  disposed at the respective distal ends. Each of the second openings  18   b ,  20   b  includes a stop  50 . The stop  50  may be a flange which extends radially inwardly from the inner surface of the second opening  18   b ,  20   b . The flange extends inwardly and is dimensioned to form a second opening  18   b ,  20   b  large enough to accept a person&#39;s finger. 
         [0023]    The sanitizing device  10  is formed by interconnected first and second tubular housings  18 ,  20 . The disks  48  have a dimension to be slidingly received within a corresponding inner surface of a respective first and second tubular housing  18 ,  20 . The disks  48  are positioned at the end the first and second tubular housings  18 ,  20 , and the sanitizing member  12  and drying member  14  are disposed between the disks  48  when the first tubular housing  18  is coupled with the second tubular housing  20 . 
         [0024]    The sanitizing member  12  is shown mounted within the first tubular housing  18  so that pushing the disk  48  with a finger will push the sanitizing member  12  from the insertion end of the first tubular housing  18  making it available for use as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0025]    A seal  52  may be mounted across an opening  46   b  of the insertion portion  46  of the first tubular housing  18  to keep the compartment defined therein sealed to maintain the moisture in the sanitizing member  12 . The seal  52  may be plastic or foil sheeting. The sanitizing member  12 , such as a wad of moist paper may be enclosed in individual packets, a plurality of which are held within the first tubular housing  18  as shown in  FIGS. 3 , and  4 . Alternatively, the sanitizing member may be a swab mounted to one end of the inner elongated member  24  (not shown). In such an embodiment, the sanitizing swab is enclosed by the seal and may be pushed out of the first tubular housing  18  via the disk  48 . The sanitizing member  112  may be formed of any suitable material configured to applying a solution such as a sanitizing liquid or a disinfectant. An acceptable substrate is the paper material used in products like towelettes. 
         [0026]    The second tubular housing  20  has an inner chamber  20   c  for receiving the drying swab or sponge and the disk  48  is mounted at the second opening  20   b  of the second tubular housing  20 . The swab may be made from any material known to absorb moisture such as a sponge, paper, cotton or a synthetic material. The disk  48  is retained in the tube by a stop  50  flange as in the first tubular housing  18 . 
         [0027]    In order to use the sanitizing device  10  the first and second tubular housings  18 ,  20  are separated and the seal is pulled from the first tubular housing  18 . The disk  48  is pressed against the sanitizing member  12  until the end extends outwardly from the insertion portion  46 . ( FIG. 8 ) The sanitizing member  12  then may be used by holding the outer surface of the first tubular housing  18  to clean a toilet seat. After use the first tubular housing  18  is discarded and the drying swab is pushed out of the second tubular housing  20  for use in drying. The first and second tubular housings  18 ,  20  may be made from biodegradable materials so that they can be flushed for disposal. 
         [0028]    With reference now to  FIGS. 5-7  a second preferred embodiment of the sanitizing device  110  is provided wherein like elements are referenced by the same number increased by 100. The first tubular housing  118  is fixedly coupled to the second tubular housing  120  so as to form an elongated inner member  24 . The distal ends of the first and second tubular housings  118 ,  120  are open. 
         [0029]    The sanitizing device  110  includes an outer tubular housing  22 . The elongated inner member  24  is slidably disposed within the outer tubular housing  22 . The outer tubular housing  22  is a generally cylindrical tube having a pair of opposed opposite ends. Each of the opposite ends has an open end  28 . The outer tubular housing  22  has a wall  30  with an outer surface  32  and an inner surface  34  defining a cavity  36 . An axially aligned slot  38  extends through the wall  30  of the outer tubular housing  22  to the inner cavity  36 . The slot  38  is formed to accept a stem  26   a  of the handle  26 . The stem  26   a  extends through the slot  38  to the inner elongated member  24 , and is fixed thereto. The outer tubular housing  22  may be formed of a biodegradable material such as thick paper or cardboard which can be flushed down the toilet. 
         [0030]    The inner elongated member  24  is generally cylindrical and formed to slide within the inner wall  30  of the outer tubular housing  22 . The sanitizing member  112 , such as a wad  112   a  of moist paper, is mounted to one end of the inner elongated member  24  and is axially outwardly from the end of the inner elongated member  24 . The sanitizing member  112  may be formed of suitable material for applying a sanitizing liquid. An acceptable substrate is the paper material used in products like towelettes. The drying member  114  such as a wad  114   a  of absorbent paper or a sponge and may be mounted within a cavity  36  formed at the other end of the inner elongated member  24 . The wad  114   a  may be made from any material known to absorb moisture such as a sponge, paper, cotton or a synthetic material. 
         [0031]    The inner elongated member  24  with the axially and outwardly drying member  114  and sanitizing member  112  are generally the same length as the outer tubular housing  22  and is received within the outer tubular housing  22  so that the sanitizing and drying members  114  are maintained just inside the outer tubular housing  22 . It should be appreciated that the inner elongated member  24  may be dimensioned so that a portion of either the sanitizing member  112  or the drying member  114  extends axially beyond an end of the outer tubular housing  22 . 
         [0032]    The stem  26   a  of the handle  26  is mounted through the slot  38  and into the inner elongated member  24 . The handle  26  may have an enlarged outer end for grasping by the user. The inner elongated member  24  with the sanitizing member  112  and drying member  114  may be contained fully within the outer tubular housing  22  during shipment. Alternatively, the sanitizing member  112  may extend outside of the outer tubular housing  22  during shipment. In such an embodiment, the entire sanitizing device is wrapped in a seal tight package  16 . 
         [0033]    If the sanitizing member  112  of the inner elongated member  24  is mounted within the outer tubular housing  22 , the handle  26  may be pushed in the direction of the sanitizing member  112  to move the inner elongated member  24  and sanitizing member  112  out of the outer tubular housing  22  before use in sanitizing the toilet seat. Movement of the handle  26  in the opposite direction results in retraction of the sanitizing member  112  within the outer tubular housing  22  and an extension of the drying member  114  from the outer tubular housing  22 . The outer tubular housing  22  is then inverted and the toilet seat may be dried with the drying member  14 . A latex glove may be included in the package  16  for use in manipulating the sanitizing device and handling the toilet seat. 
         [0034]    It should be appreciated that the handle  26  shown is illustrative and not limiting to the scope of the invention, for instance the sanitizing device  110  may include a sleeve (not shown) or band (not shown) that encircles the outer tubular housing  22  and slides on the outer tubular housing  22 . The sleeve or band may include a stem (not shown) connecting the inner surface of the sleeve or band to the inner elongated member  24 . The stem is movable along a slot (not shown) so as to move the respective ends of the elongated member in and out of the outer tubular housing  22 . 
         [0035]    It is important that the sanitizing member  112  be stored in an airtight package so that it does not dry out prematurely. Accordingly, the device  110  may be delivered in a package  16 . The package  16  may be an airtight pouch or packaging material. The packaging material may have a foil laminate to prevent migration of air into the package. Alternatively, seals may be positioned over the ends of the outer tubular housing  22  so that no air gets into the outer tubular housing  22 . After use the sanitizing device  110  is discarded. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , a third preferred embodiment of the sanitizing device is provided wherein like elements are referenced by the same member increased by 200. The sanitizing device  210  includes a first tubular housing  218  and a second tubular housing  220  formed together as a single tube unit  40 . The outer surface of the single tube unit  40  is used as a handle with the drying member  214  and sanitizing member  212  disposed on opposite ends of the single unit  40 . For instance, the sanitizing device  210  includes a drying swab  214   a  or sponge extending from one end and a sanitizing swab  212   a  extending from the other end. The sanitizing device  210  includes a partition  42  between the first and second tubular housing so as to allow one to break away from the other. In one embodiment the partition  42  is a plurality of serrations which extend circumferentially around the middle of the single tube unit to break off the sanitizing member  212  after use and permit sanitizing member  212  to be discarded. The remaining portion, the drying member  214  is then used to dry the toilet seat. 
         [0037]    Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims.