Patent Publication Number: US-2010114000-A1

Title: Sanitary tool having functional liquid medicine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a sanitary tool having functional liquid, and more particularly to a sanitary tool having functional liquid, capable of storing functional liquid in a barrel mounted with an absorbent member at one end and flowing the liquid to the absorbent member when necessary. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, cotton buds are widely used as a sanitary tool for disinfecting wounds, washing sensitive parts of a human body, and cleaning electronic appliances. 
     The cotton bud consists of a wooden or synthetic-resin stick and an absorbent member such as cotton wool attached to one or each end of the stick. Sometimes, for more effective cleaning, the cotton bud may be used with a predetermined functional liquid, for example alcohol, as applied to the absorbent member. 
     However, with a conventional cotton bud in this case, a user needs to dedicatedly prepare liquid having a proper function. Furthermore, there is inconvenience in use as well as in storage and carriage since the user has to apply the liquid to the absorbent member directly. 
     Therefore, a sanitary tool having functional liquid therein is thus developed by the present applicant, the sanitary tool capable of storing the functional liquid in a barrel mounted with an absorbent member and flowing the stored liquid out to the absorbent member when necessary during the disinfection or cleaning work, saving the necessity of separately preparing the functional liquid and the absorbent member for absorbing the functional liquid. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary tool having functional liquid, improved for more convenient storage, carriage and use. 
     Technical Solution 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, comprising an inner barrel having a liquid storage part for storing a predetermined functional liquid therein; an absorbent member mounted to the inner barrel to absorb the functional liquid stored in the liquid storage part; an outer barrel separably connected with the inner barrel; and a cleaning member mounted to the outer barrel to wipe out the functional liquid. 
     The inner barrel may comprise a liquid storage part receiving the functional liquid; an outlet for the functional liquid stored in the liquid storage part to flow out therethrough; and an inlet for the air for moving the functional liquid stored in the liquid storage part to the outlet to flow in therethrough. 
     The outer barrel may comprise a barrel receiving part receiving an area including the inlet of the inner barrel; and a stopper formed in the barrel receiving part and contacting with and separating from the inlet to thereby open and shut the liquid storage part. 
     An air path may be formed between an inner circumference of the barrel receiving part and an outer circumference of the inner barrel so that the air flows through the air path to the inlet. Therefore, the external air flows into the inlet through the air path during separation of the inner barrel from the outer barrel, thereby moving the functional liquid stored in the liquid storage part to the outlet. Thus, the functional liquid can be supplied to the absorbent member. 
     The sanitary tool may further comprise a supporting rim protruded from the inner circumference of the barrel receiving part to support the outer circumference of the inner barrel. 
     Since the supporting rim may be formed to have a protrusion/groove structure, the external air can be smoothly flown through the air path formed by grooves of the supporting rim without complete separation of the inner barrel from the outer barrel. Therefore, the functional liquid in the liquid storage part can be supplied to the absorbent member. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a male thread may be formed on a part of the outer circumference of the inner barrel, and a female thread for engagement with the male thread is formed on a part of the inner circumference of the barrel receiving part of the outer barrel. Therefore, the inner barrel can be more easily connected and separated with respect to the outer barrel. 
     The female thread may be formed to have a protrusion/groove structure formed along the length direction thereof. Therefore, the external air can be smoothly flown through the air path formed by grooves of the female thread without complete separation of the inner barrel from the outer barrel, and the functional liquid in the liquid storage part can be supplied to the absorbent member. 
     The absorbent member and the cleaning member may be implemented by cotton wool or a nib. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sanitary tool having functional liquid, comprising an inner barrel having a liquid storage part for storing a predetermined functional liquid and an outlet formed at one end thereof for the functional liquid stored in the liquid storage part to flow out therethrough; an absorbent member mounted to the outlet to absorb the functional liquid stored in the liquid storage part; a piston mounted in the inner barrel to be movable by an elastic member; and a fixing pin separably fit with the inner barrel and the piston, thereby fixing the piston to the inner barrel. 
     The piston may move to keep airtightness in the inner barrel. 
     The absorbent member may be implemented by cotton wool or a nib. 
     The other end of the inner barrel may be mounted with a cleaning member. 
     The cleaning member may be implemented by cotton wool. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 1 , showing the use process of the sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to, a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 6 , showing the use process of the sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In the description, like elements having like functions and structures will be cited by the same reference numerals throughout and explained representatively in a first embodiment while, in other embodiments, only distinctive structures thereof will be explained. 
       FIGS. 1 through 3  show a sanitary tool having functional liquid, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the sanitary tool having functional liquid comprises an inner barrel  10 , an absorbent member  20 , an outer barrel  30 , and a cleaning member  50 . 
     The inner barrel  10  has a hollow pipe form having a circular cross-sectional shape, and includes a liquid storage part  11  for storing a predetermined functional liquid  5  therein. An outlet  13  is formed at one end of the inner barrel  10  to flow out the stored functional liquid  5  therethrough. An inlet  15  is formed at the other end of the inner barrel  10  to guide in air for moving the stored functional liquid  5  toward the outlet  13 . 
     The outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10  is mounted with the absorbent member  20  for absorbing the functional liquid  5  in the liquid storage part  11 . In this embodiment, cotton wool having excellent absorbency is used for the absorbent member  20 . Here, scratches may be formed on an outer circumference of the inner barrel  10  in a region where the absorbent member  20  is mounted, to improve coherence between the inner barrel  10  and the absorbent member  20 . 
     The outer barrel  30  also having a hollow pipe form reciprocates in a length direction of the inner barrel  10 . The outer barrel  30  comprises a barrel receiving part  33  receiving a part of the inner barrel  10  including the inlet  15 , and a stopper  50  formed in the barrel receiving part  33 . The stopper  50  opens and shuts the liquid storage part  11 , as contacting with and separating from the inlet  15 . 
     Inner circumference of the barrel receiving part  33  and the outer circumference of the inner barrel  10  are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap, thereby forming an air path  35  for guiding air into the inlet  15 . Therefore, the external air flows into the inlet  15  through the air path  35  during separation of the inner barrel  10  from the outer barrel  30 , so that the functional liquid  5  stored in the liquid storage part  13  can be moved to the outlet  13  and supplied to the absorbent member  20 . 
     In addition, the cleaning member  40  is mounted around one end of the outer barrel  30 , disposed opposite to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 , to absorb the functional liquid  5 . Similarly to the absorbent member  20 , the cleaning member  40  is implemented by cotton wool having excellent absorbency. Scratches may also be formed along outer circumference of the outer barrel  30  in a region where the cleaning member  40  is mounted, to improve coherence between the outer barrel  30  and the cleaning member  40 . The cleaning member  40  may be used for cleaning the part the functional liquid  5  will be applied on or wiping away wrongly applied functional liquid  5 . 
     Therefore, in the sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent member  20  and the cleaning member  40  are disposed symmetrically. 
     The stopper  50  is formed in the outer barrel  30  and protruded by a predetermined length in an axial direction of the outer barrel  30 . The stopper  50  has the same cross-sectional shape and diameter as the inner circumference of the inlet  15  so as to keep airtightness of the liquid storage part  11  when inserted in the inlet  15 . As the outer barrel  30  reciprocates, the stopper  50  tightly contacts with and separates from the end of inlet  15  of the inner barrel  10 , thereby opening and blocking the inlet  15 . Consequently, the liquid storage part  11  is opened and shut. In addition, the stopper  50  according to the first embodiment of the present invention prevents the air guided in through the air path  35  from moving to the cleaning member  40  along the inner circumference of the outer barrel  30 . Here, the stopper  50  may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber. 
     Hereinafter, the manufacturing process of the sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described briefly. 
     First, the outer barrel  30  is mounted to one end of the inner barrel  10  forming the inlet  15  such that the stopper  50  blocks the inlet  15 . 
     The functional liquid  5  is then injected into the liquid storage part  11  of the inner barrel  10 . During this, since the liquid storage part  11  is sealed by the stopper  50  blocking the inlet  15 , negative pressure is generated in the liquid storage part  11  which is disposed between the functional liquid  5  and the stopper  50 . 
     After a predetermined amount of the functional liquid  5  is injected in the inner barrel  10 , the absorbent member  20  is mounted to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . Here, owing to surface tension of the functional liquid  5  and the negative pressure between the functional liquid  5  and the stopper  50 , the functional liquid  5  stored in the liquid storage part  11  of the inner barrel  10  does not move to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . The sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention is thus manufactured. 
     The use process of the above-structured sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained. 
     In the state of  FIG. 2  where the functional liquid  5  is injected in the liquid storage part  11  of the inner barrel  10 , if the outer barrel  30  is moved to the right of the drawing as shown in  FIG. 3  so that the inner barrel  10  and the outer barrel  30  are spaced away from each other, the stopper  50  is moved to the right together with the outer barrel  30 . Accordingly, the inlet  15  of the inner barrel  10  is opened. 
     As the inlet  15  is opened, the external air flows into the inlet  15  through the air path  35 , thereby increasing pressure at the inlet  15 . As a result, the negative pressure between the inlet  15  and the functional liquid  5  is released and the functional liquid  5  stored in the liquid storage part  11  is moved to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10  to soak the absorbent member  20 . 
     When the absorbent member  20  is soaked, a user is now able to apply the functional liquid  5  on a desired part. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are longitudinal sectional views of a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Differently from in the first embodiment, the sanitary tool according to the second embodiment comprises a nib as an absorbent member  20 ′ which is formed at the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . 
     Therefore, the sanitary tool according to the second embodiment enables more detailed application of the functional liquid  5  on the desired part, compared to the sanitary tool according to the first embodiment. 
     Since the process of supplying the functional liquid  5  to the absorbent member  20 ′ is the same as in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted hereinafter. 
       FIGS. 6 through 9  show a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the distinctive feature of the third embodiment from the first embodiment is a supporting rim  37  protruded on the inner circumference of the outer barrel  30  in radial directions to support the outer circumference of the inner barrel  10 . More specifically, the supporting rim  37  is formed to have a protrusion/groove structure to partly support the outer circumference of the inner barrel  10 . 
     Therefore, the external air can freely flow through the air path  35  formed by grooves of the supporting rim  37  without complete separation of the inner barrel  10  from the outer barrel  30 , so that the functional liquid  5  in the liquid storage part  11  can be supplied to the absorbent member  20 . 
     Since having been explained in the first embodiment, the process of supplying the functional liquid  5  to the absorbent member  20  will not be repeatedly explained. Although cotton wool is used for the absorbent member  20  according to the drawings of this embodiment, a nib may replace the cotton wool. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Although the sanitary tool of the third embodiment comprises the supporting rim  37 , the sanitary tool according to the fourth embodiment comprises a male thread  17  formed on a part of the outer circumference of the inner barrel  10  and a female thread  39  formed on a part of the inner circumference of the barrel receiving part  33  of the outer barrel  30  to be engaged with the male thread  17 . 
     The female thread  39  of the barrel receiving part  33  is formed to have a protrusion/groove structure formed along the length direction thereof. Therefore, the external air can freely flow through the air path  35  formed by grooves of the female thread  39  without complete separation of the inner barrel  10  from the outer barrel  30 , so that the functional liquid  5  in the liquid storage part  11  can be supplied to the absorbent member  20 . 
     According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as a result, connection and separation between the inner barrel  10  and the outer barrel  30  become easier as compared to in the third embodiment. 
     Since the process of supplying the functional liquid  5  to the absorbent member  20  is the same as in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted hereinafter. Furthermore, although cotton wool is used for the absorbent member  20  in this embodiment, the nib may replace the cotton wool. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Differently from all the previous embodiments, the outer barrel  30  is absent from the sanitary tool according to the fifth embodiment. In addition, a piston  61  is mounted in the inner barrel  10  to be movable by an elastic member  63 . The piston  61  is separably fit in the inner barrel  10  by a fixing pin  65 . 
     Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the outlet  13  for flowing out the functional liquid  5  from the liquid storage part  11  is formed at one end of the inner barrel  10 . 
     The outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10  is provided with the absorbent member  20  for absorbing the functional liquid  5  in the liquid storage part  11 . Cotton wool having excellent absorbency is used for the absorbent member  20  in this embodiment. 
     The piston  61  is mounted movably while keeping airtightness on the inner circumference of the inner barrel  10 . In accordance with the movement thereof, the piston  61  pushes the functional liquid  5  in the liquid storage part  11  out to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . 
     The stopper  50  is mounted to the other end of the inner barrel  10 . The elastic member  63  is interposed between the stopper  50  and the piston  61  to supply elastic force for biasing the piston  61  toward the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . 
     The fixing pin  65  is separably fit with the piston  61  to restrict movement of the piston  61 . More specifically, the fixing pin  65  is fit in a through hole  19  formed on the outer circumference of the inner barrel  10  and a fitting hole  61   a  formed on the piston  61 . As the fixing pin  65  is released from the fitting hole  61   a  of the piston  61 , the piston  61  is moved toward the outlet  13  thereby pushing out the functional liquid  5  to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . 
     The cleaning member  40  may be mounted to the other end of the inner barrel  10 . As well as the absorbent member  20 , the cleaning member  40  is made of cotton wool having excellent absorbency. 
     Accordingly, in the sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent member  20  and the cleaning member  40  are disposed symmetrically. 
     Hereinafter, the use process of the above-structured sanitary tool having functional liquid according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     In a state where the functional liquid  5  is injected in the liquid storage part  11  of the inner barrel  10 , if the fixing pin  65  is separated from the fitting hole  61   a  of the piston  61 , the piston  61  is moved to outlet  13  by the elastic force of the elastic member  63 , thereby pushing out the functional liquid  5  to the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . 
     The functional liquid  5  thus flown out to the outlet  13  soaks the absorbent member  20 . 
     Now, the user is able to apply the functional liquid  5  on the desired part with the absorbent member  20 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The distinctive feature of this embodiment from the fifth embodiment is omission of the cleaning member  40  from the other end of the inner barrel  10 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show a sanitary tool having functional liquid according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Differently from the fifth embodiment, the sanitary tool according to the seventh embodiment comprises a nib as the absorbent member  20 ′ which is formed at the outlet  13  of the inner barrel  10 . 
     The nib-type absorbent member  20  enables more detailed application of the functional liquid  5  on the desired part in comparison with the absorbent member  20  of the fifth embodiment. 
     Since the process of supplying the functional liquid  5  to the absorbent member  20  is the same as in the fifth embodiment, description thereof will be omitted hereinafter. 
     As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, application of functional liquid through an absorbent member can be facilitated, saving the necessity of preparing the functional liquid and the sanitary tool separately. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.