Abstract:
A wipe ( 100 ), especially for hygiene purposes, has a first surface ( 102 ) and a second surface ( 103 ), with a hydrophilic drying material ( 101 ) arranged on the first surface ( 102 ). A tab-shaped gripping member ( 104 ) is arranged on the second surface ( 103 ), which gripping member ( 104 ) has a length direction and a width direction, the length of the gripping member being at least 10 millimeters and the width of the gripping member not exceeding 5 millimeters, and the gripping member allows the wipe ( 100 ) to be held by securely gripping it longitudinally between two fingers of the hand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    The present application claims the priority of Swedish Patent Application No. SE 0003114-6, filed in Sweden on Sep. 4, 2000. The present application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 06/234,158, filed in the United States on Sep. 20, 2000. The contents of Swedish Patent Application No. SE 0003114-6 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/234,158 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The invention relates to a wipe having a first surface and a second surface, with a hydrophilic material layer arranged on the first surface and a gripping member arranged on the second surface.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    For cleaning the genital and anal region, for example when visiting the toilet, or for washing/drying of infants or of incontinent bedridden adults, it has until now been customary to use toilet paper, wipes, towelettes or the like. However, the known drying means are associated with a number of disadvantages. For example, when using toilet paper or wipes for drying, an unnecessarily large amount of material is used up in order to form a “handle” to secure the drying material in relation to the hand and to ensure that the hand which is holding the drying material is protected from contamination. Moreover, toilet paper and wipes afford poor precision during the drying procedure and, especially in the nursing context, result in ineffective and unhygienic handling of the drying material.  
           [0006]    Another problem arises in connection with wiping cloths for polishing purposes. Such cloths have to be moved at great speed across the surface which is to be polished and, as a result of the friction between the polished surface and the polishing cloth, it is easy for the polishing cloth to slip out of the user&#39;s hand. Polishing does not always require that the drying material be hydrophilic, since polishing is often carried out on dry or oily surfaces. In the latter case, it may be expedient to use a drying material which absorbs hydrophobic liquids, such as oils.  
           [0007]    To make drying easier, to save material and to provide better protection against contamination, it has been proposed, for example in DE 4117827 and WO 96/16217, to design wipes as pockets or mitts into which the user can insert a hand. However, such mitts or pockets still require a relatively large amount of material. In addition, there is a considerable risk of the mitt or pocket slipping off the hand, or slipping round the hand during use. Thus, the known drying mitts do not afford satisfactory protection against contamination or sufficient precision and control during the drying procedure.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wipe for cleaning the genital and anal region, for polishing purposes, or similar uses.  
           [0009]    A wipe designed according to the invention may include a first drying surface and a gripping member in the form of a tab projecting from a second surface. The gripping member has a length direction and a width direction, the length of the gripping member preferably being at least 10 millimeters and the width of the gripping member preferably not exceeding 5 millimeters. The gripping member can be held securely by gripping it longitudinally between two fingers of the hand. The length direction of the gripping member is the direction which coincides with the length direction of the user&#39;s fingers when the wipe is being used. The width direction is at right angles to the length direction of the gripping member, and the width of the gripping member is the extent in the width direction when the gripping member is held securely between two fingers. Thus, the gripping member should preferably not be so wide that it becomes uncomfortable or difficult to hold securely between two fingers.  
           [0010]    To obtain a good hold and to facilitate gripping of the tab-shaped gripping member, it is preferable for the latter, at least somewhere along its length, to project from the second surface by at least 5 millimeters, and more preferably for the tab-shaped gripping member to project from the second surface by 10-40 millimeters. The upper limit for the height of the tab-shaped gripping member or for its width is not critical for the gripping function, but for reasons of material consumption, and from the point of view of handling, it is preferable that the gripping member is not too wide.  
           [0011]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the tab-shaped gripping member is formed by a material fold in a material layer. Such a gripping member thus comprises double plies of the material layer. It is also possible to use laminated material layers, for example a laminate of nonwoven material and a plastic film, by which means the gripping member comprises a liquid barrier. The separate material section can be in the form of a material band or a layer which after folding has substantially the same planar extent as, or a different planar extent than, the hydrophilic material layer. Laminating several layers of material also increases the stiffness and thus the stability and grippability of the gripping member.  
           [0012]    The separate material section is fixed to the second surface of the hydrophilic material layer, either directly against this surface, or against an intermediate material layer which is arranged across the second surface of the hydrophilic material layer. Examples of such intermediate material layers are liquid-tight material layers, bacteria-tight material layers, strengthening layers, or similar layers. The separate material section forming the gripping member can be arranged across the whole of the second surface of the hydrophilic material layer or over just part of this surface.  
           [0013]    According to another embodiment of the invention, at least two tab-shaped gripping members are arranged on the second surface. By adapting the distance between the tab-shaped gripping members so that it corresponds to the width of one or two fingers, it is possible to grip both gripping members at the same time. Such dual holding permits a secure hold and a high level of control over the wipe during the drying procedure. Two or more gripping members additionally afford the user the possibility of choosing to use either one or two gripping members. By choosing different gripping members, it is also possible to determine the position of the wipe in relation to the hand, and to move the wipe in relation to the hand, so that different parts of the wipe can be used for drying. The distance between two adjacent tab-shaped gripping members should preferably be from 2 centimeters to 8 centimeters and more preferably from 2.5 centimeters to 6 centimeters.  
           [0014]    The hydrophilic material layer advantageously comprises a liquid-absorbing material, for example cellulose pulp, cotton fibers, peat, or similar material, so that body fluids can be absorbed by the wipe.  
           [0015]    To facilitate cutting of the wipes according to the invention, the outer contour of the gripping tabs, when the gripping tabs are folded down against the gripping surface, can be designed to at least partially coincide with the outer contour of the hydrophilic material layer of the wipe. When the gripping tabs are formed by a folded material section, it is also possible, after the gripping tabs have been formed, to cut their outer contour to match the outer contour of the rest of the wipe.  
           [0016]    It can also be expedient to arrange a protective layer between the gripping member and the hydrophilic material layer of the wipe in order to protect the user&#39;s hand against soiling. Such a protective layer can, for example, be a plastic film or a hydrophobic nonwoven material which reduces movement of liquid to the user&#39;s hand. It is also conceivable to use a bacteria-tight material, material with bactericidal properties, material with high absorbency, or similar material. It is of course possible for the tab-shaped gripping member or gripping members to be made of the same material as the protective layer, or to let the tab-shaped gripping member be part of the protective layer.  
           [0017]    The stability and control of the wipe, during drying, and its grippability increase as the length of the gripping member increases, at least to a length approximately corresponding to the length of a finger. It is therefore advantageous if the gripping member has an extent in the longitudinal direction which is at least 1.5 centimeters and preferably at least 3 centimeters.  
           [0018]    Since at least one finger is situated on each side of the tab-shaped gripping member during use of the wipe according to the invention, the material of the gripping member can be secured firmly between the fingers on both sides of the gripping member. This means that the wipe is prevented from slipping off the hand during the drying procedure. In addition, the wipe can be held in a predetermined position, as a result of which soiled parts of the wipe are prevented from inadvertently coming into contact with surfaces outside the drying location. The fact that the wipe can be locked in a defined position in relation to the user&#39;s hand also means that the user has greater control over the wipe during the drying procedure, as a result of which drying is made easier and can be done with greater precision and with a better end result than has been possible with the previously known wipes. In accordance with the invention it is thus possible to achieve greater protection against soiling of the user&#39;s hand, better holding of the wipe, and greater precision and accuracy in the drying procedure.  
           [0019]    The invention thus makes available a wipe with a drying surface which is designed to offer optimum drying properties and a gripping member which is designed to offer reliable and hygienic holding of the wipe during the drying procedure. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0020]    The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures shown in the attached drawings. Of these:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a wipe according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen from the side which, during drying, is intended to be directed away from the drying area;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of how the wipe in FIG. 1 can be held securely during use;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows a wipe according to a second embodiment of the invention, seen from the side which, during drying, is intended to be directed away from the drying area;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV through the wipe in FIG. 3;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of how the wipe in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be held securely during use;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows a wipe according to a third embodiment of the invention, seen from the side which, during drying, is intended to be directed away from the drying area;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows a section through a wipe according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 shows a section through a wipe according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows a wipe according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    The wipe  100  shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  is shown from the side which is intended to be gripped during use and comprises a first layer, the drying layer  101 , made of a liquid-absorbing or at least hydrophilic material. Suitable materials in this case are layers of tissue, thin flexible layers of absorbent foam and textiles or textile-like material, preferably so-called nonwoven material comprising absorbent or at least hydrophilic fibers. Examples of fibers that can be used in this connection are cellulose fibers, regenerated cellulose, polyester, polyolefin fibers which have been rendered hydrophilic, or similar fibers. The drying layer  101  can comprise absorbent material together with nonabsorbent binding fibers, strengthening fibers, or similar fibers. For example, nonwoven material consisting of fiber mixtures with absorbent and nonabsorbent fibers can be used. However, it is preferred that the fibers used are primarily fibers which are hydrophilic or which have been treated in order to obtain a hydrophilic surface, for example with wetting agents or by chemical or physical modification of the fibers. The drying layer  101  can comprise one or more plies of material and can also be provided with a cover sheet, preferably of nonwoven material on the drying surface  102 , which is the surface intended to be directed towards the surface to be dried. The drying layer  101  also has a gripping surface  103  on which a gripping member  104  is arranged.  
         [0031]    The gripping member  104  can be formed by a second layer  105  which is fixed to the drying layer  101  by adhesive bonding, welding, or similar means. The join between the drying layer  101  and the second layer  105  can be made continuous over the entire mutually facing surfaces of the drying layer  101  and the second layer  105 , or can be in the form of discrete attachment points or attachment areas arranged between the layers.  
         [0032]    The second layer  105  can consist of the same material as the drying layer or of some other layer material suitable for this purpose. The second layer  105  can be chosen from a larger group of materials, since no requirements in terms of absorption properties are placed on this layer. Thus, the second layer  105  can be a layer of tissue, a nonwoven layer, a plastic film, a layer of paper, or similar material. However, the second layer  105  is preferably liquid-tight, or at least hydrophobic, so that it resists penetration of liquid during the drying procedure. Protection against soiling of the user&#39;s hand during drying is achieved in this way.  
         [0033]    The wipe  100  has a trapezoid shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and with two equal long side edges  108 ,  109  extending in the longitudinal direction and two end edges  110 ,  111  extending in the transverse direction, of which one end edge  110  is slightly shorter than the other end edge  
         [0034]    The gripping member  104  is formed by a gripping tab projecting from the gripping surface  103  of the drying layer and with an essentially rectangular shape and is formed by a fold in the second layer  105  which extends in the longitudinal direction of the wipe. The fold can be closed, for example by adhesive bonding or welding, or can be an open material fold.  
         [0035]    During use of the wipe  100 , the gripping member  104  is held securely between two fingers, for example between the middle finger  117  and the index finger  118 , as is shown in FIG. 2. To protect the fingers against soiling, the wipe  100  should have a width which at least exceeds the width of two fingers and preferably should have a width which exceeds the width of three fingers, as is shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0036]    The wipe  300  shown in FIGS.  3 - 5  is again seen in FIGS. 3 and 5 from the side which is intended to be gripped during use. The wipe  300  comprises a drying layer  301  with a drying surface  302  and a second surface, the gripping surface  303 , which is directed away from the drying surface  302 . A further material layer, the protective layer  321 , is arranged on the second surface  303  of the drying layer. The protective layer  321  is preferably a layer of tissue, a nonwoven layer, or a liquid-tight layer such as a plastic layer, or a hydrophobic nonwoven layer. Alternatively, the protective layer  321  can be a laminate of an absorbent or hydrophilic layer and a liquid-tight layer, for example a layer of tissue and a plastic layer.  
         [0037]    Two gripping members  304  are formed by a material layer  305 , fixed to the surface of the protective layer  321  directed away from the drying layer  301 , along two parallel attachment lines  306 ,  307 , for example by adhesive bonding, stitching or welding. The join can be in the form of a continuous seam along the whole of each attachment line  306 ,  307  or can be discontinuous, consisting of two or more attachment areas.  
         [0038]    The attachment lines  306 ,  307  are preferably arranged at a distance from each other which approximately corresponds to the width of one finger. Alternatively, the distance between the attachment lines and thus between the gripping members  304  can correspond to approximately two finger widths. It is also possible, but less preferable, to arrange the gripping members  304  at any other distance from each other. In the latter case, only one gripping member  304  can generally be used for holding the wipe  300 . However, the user has the possibility of choosing which of the gripping members to use and can in this way control the position of the wipe in relation to the hand, which is of course an advantage. Also, in the alternative embodiments in which the distance between the gripping members  304  corresponds to one or two finger widths, the user can of course choose only to use one of the gripping members  304 .  
         [0039]    Like the wipe shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wipe  300  has a trapezoid shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and with two equal long side edges  308 ,  309  extending in the longitudinal direction and two end edges  310 ,  311  extending in the transverse direction, of which one end edge  310  is slightly shorter than the other end edge  311 . In the examples shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the gripping members  304  extend the whole distance between the end edges  110 ,  111 ;  310 ,  311 . However, it is not necessary for the gripping member or members to extend the whole distance between the end edges  110 ,  111 ;  310 ,  311 .  
         [0040]    All the layers included in the wipe  300  have essentially the same shape and planar extent, which is an advantage from a manufacturing point of view, since wipes can be cut out directly from a co-laminated web comprising all the layers  301 ,  305 ,  321 .  
         [0041]    The wipe shown in FIGS.  3 - 5  is used in a similar way as the wipe in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, one or two fingers are arranged between the gripping members  304 , preferably from the shorter end edge  310  of the wipe, and one or more gripping members  304  are held securely between one finger introduced between the gripping members  304  and at least one adjacent finger between the respective gripping member  304  and the corresponding side edge. As is shown in FIG. 5, the wipe  300  can be held securely using three fingers when the distance between the gripping members  304  is adapted to one finger width, in which case one gripping member  304  is held securely between the ring finger  319  and the middle finger  317  and one gripping member  304  is held securely between the middle finger  317  and the index finger  318 .  
         [0042]    Unlike the wipes shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the wipe  600  shown in FIG. 6 has an oval shape and comprises a drying layer  601  with a drying surface  602  and a gripping surface  603 , and with a protective layer  621 , for example a plastic film arranged across the gripping surface  603 . A strip-shaped material layer  605  is arranged on the surface of the protective layer  621  directed away from the drying layer and is fixed to the protective layer  621  in folded form, so that two tab-shaped gripping tabs or members  604 ′,  604 ″ are obtained. The strip-shaped material layer  605  can consist of a plastic film, a nonwoven material, a laminate of plastic film and nonwoven, or similar materials. By arranging a plastic film inside a nonwoven material, gripping members  604 ′,  604 ″ are obtained with a liquid-tight and bacteria-tight barrier between the user&#39;s hand and the wipe. At the same time, the nonwoven material can be chosen such that the friction between the user&#39;s hand and the gripping members is greater than for a plastic film, as a result of which the securing properties of the gripping members are improved.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 7 shows a cross section of a wipe  700  with a gripping member  704  according to the invention. The gripping member  704  is in the form of a folded tab and comprises an outer cover material, for example a plastic film, or a hydrophobic, preferably liquid-resistant, nonwoven material, and an inner material which is part of the drying layer  701  of the wipe. By letting the drying layer  701  extend into the gripping member  704 , a stronger and more stable gripping member is obtained which is easier to grip and secure. The wipe in FIG. 7 is further provided with a liquid-permeable cover sheet  723 , which is fixed to the drying surface  702  of the drying layer  701 . Such liquid-permeable cover sheets can of course be used together with any of the wipes disclosed herein.  
         [0044]    A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. Like the wipe in FIG. 7, the wipe  800  is shown in cross section and, like the wipe  700  shown in FIG. 7, comprises a liquid-permeable cover sheet  823  arranged across the drying surface of a drying layer  801 . The surface of the drying layer opposite the cover sheet, namely the gripping surface  803 , is covered by a protective layer  821  which is fixed to the drying layer in a conventional manner.  
         [0045]    The gripping members include two gripping tabs  804 ′,  804 ″ which are fixed at a distance from each other, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  3 - 5 . In contrast to the previously described embodiment, however, the gripping tabs  804 ′,  804 ″ are fixed with their free ends  824 ,  825  directed in towards the longitudinal centre line of the wipe  800 . In the example shown, the free ends  824 ,  825  overlap slightly, which facilitates gripping of the tabs. The variant shown in FIG. 8 is advantageous since it is easy to lift the gripping tabs  804 ′,  804 ″ up from the protective layer  821  by bending the wipe along the longitudinal centre line, so that the free ends  824 ,  825  of the gripping tabs  804 ′,  804 ″ can be easily gripped. Depending on the size of the wipe and the distance between the gripping tabs  804 ′,  804 ″, it is of course possible to arrange gripping tabs  804 ′,  804 ″ which overlap each other to a greater extent than is shown in FIG. 8, or which do not overlap each other at all.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a wipe  900  with a relatively stiff material section  905 , such as stiff plastic, with two pre-formed gripping tabs  904 ′,  904 ″. The stiff material section  905  is fixed to the wipe with the gripping tabs  904 ′,  904 ″ projecting from the gripping surface  903  of the drying layer  901 . As the gripping tabs  904 ′,  904 ″ are not formed by a material fold, they can be given any expedient shape, for example rounded, as is shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0047]    Although the wipes in several of the illustrative embodiments shown have a trapezoid shape, it is of course possible, within the scope of the invention, to use a number of other shapes. For example, square, rectangular, circular, oval or triangular wipes can be used. The size of the wipe can of course be varied according to the area of use. However, the wipe should have a width which at least corresponds to two finger widths. Moreover, the drying layer can be made up of one or more layers of different or similar composition. The absorption capacity of the drying layer can of course be adapted according to the area of use. The wipe can of course be of the towelette type. The use of the different protective layers and cover sheets described is of course applicable to all the various embodiments. It is likewise possible to provide a wipe according to the invention with more than one tab-shaped gripping member.  
         [0048]    Although only preferred embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.