Patent Publication Number: US-10327600-B1

Title: Personal hygiene and wiping tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of personal and domestic articles including sanitary equipment not otherwise provided for, more specifically, a body washing implement having a rigid handle. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The personal hygiene and wiping tool is a cleaning tool. The personal hygiene and wiping tool is adapted for use with a person. The personal hygiene and wiping tool is configured for use with toilet paper. The personal hygiene and wiping tool extends in a telescopic fashion. The personal hygiene and wiping tool is designed to capture and hold in place toilet paper. The personal hygiene and wiping tool is used to extend the reach of the user such that the toilet paper can be brought to hard to reach body locations that may otherwise be difficult to clean adequately. The personal hygiene and wiping tool comprises a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are attached in a telescopic manner. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the personal hygiene and wiping tool will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the personal hygiene and wiping tool in detail, it is to be understood that the personal hygiene and wiping tool is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the personal hygiene and wiping tool. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the personal hygiene and wiping tool. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is an extended perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a retracted perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a retracted side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an extended side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an extended alternate side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
     The personal hygiene and wiping tool is a cleaning tool. The invention  100  is adapted for use with a person. The invention  100  is configured for use with toilet paper  171 . The toilet paper  171  is an inexpensive pressed paper product that is commonly used for hygiene purposes. The use of toilet paper  171  is well known and documented worldwide. The invention  100  extends in a telescopic fashion. The invention  100  is designed to capture and hold in place toilet paper  171 . The invention  100  is used to extend the reach of the user such that the toilet paper  171  can be brought to a hard to reach body location that may otherwise be difficult to clean adequately. The invention  100  comprises a first arm  101  and a second arm  102 . The first arm  101  and the second arm  102  are attached to each other in a telescopic manner. 
     The first arm  101  is a hollow cylindrical structure that is used to form the telescopic structure of the invention  100 . The first arm  101  comprises a first base  111 , a semi-cylindrical extension  112 , and a slide slot  113 . The first base  111  is a capped cylindrical pipe that forms the primary structure of the first arm  101 . The first base  111  is further defined with a first capped end  141 , a first open end  142 , and a first inner diameter  162 . The first capped end  141  is the closed end of the first base  111 . The first open end  142  is the open end of the first base  111 . The first inner diameter  162  refers to the inner diameter of the first base  111 . 
     The semi-cylindrical extension  112  is attached to the open end of the first arm  101 . The semi-cylindrical extension  112  is a semi-cylindrical pipe that extends away from the first open end  142  of the first arm  101 . The semi-cylindrical extension  112  extends away from the first open end  142  such that: 1) the center axis of the cylinder that forms the semi-cylindrical extension  112  is aligned with the center axis of the first base  111 ; and, 2) the span of the inner diameter of the cylinder that forms the semi-cylindrical extension  112  is identical to the span of the first inner diameter  162  of the first base  111 . 
     The slide slot  113  is an aperture formed through the face of the first base  111 . The slide slot  113  forms a structure that: 1) receives a detent  122  from the second arm  102 ; 2) allows the detent  122  to slide freely within the slide slot  113 ; and, 3) locks the detent  122  into position such that the position of the second arm  102  can be locked into position relative to the first arm  101 . The slide slot  113  comprises a transition slot  115 , a first lock notch  116 , and a second lock notch  117 . 
     The transition slot  115  is an oval shaped section of the slide slot  113 . The sense of direction of the center axis of the transition slot  115  is parallel to the sense of direction of the center axis of the first base  111 . The first lock notch  116  is an oval shaped section of the slide slot  113  that projects perpendicularly away from the transition slot  115  such that the center axis of the first lock notch  116  is perpendicular to the center axis of the transition slot  115 . The second lock notch  117  is an oval shaped section of the slide slot  113  that projects perpendicularly away from the transition slot  115  such that the center axis of the second lock notch  117  is perpendicular to the center axis of the transition slot  115 . 
     The transition slot  115  is further defined with a slot width  118 . The first lock notch  116  is further defined with a slot width  118 . The span of the slot width  118  of the first lock notch  116  is the same as the span of the slot width  118  of the transition slot  115 . The second lock notch  117  is further defined with a slot width  118 . The slot width  118  of the second lock notch  117  is the same as the span of the slot width  118  of the transition slot  115 . The slot width  118  is the span of the distance across an oval selected from the group consisting of the transition slot  115 , the first lock notch  116 , or the second lock notch  117 . By across is meant that the slot width  118  is measured along a direction that is perpendicular to the sense of direction of the center axis of the selected oval. 
     The second arm  102  is a hollow cylindrical structure that is used to form the telescopic structure of the invention  100 . The second arm  102  comprises a second base  121  and a detent  122 . The second base  121  is a capped cylindrical pipe that forms the primary structure of the second arm  102 . The second base  121  is further defined with a second capped end  151 , a second open end  152 , and a first outer diameter  161 . The second capped end  151  is the closed end of the second base  121 . The second open end  152  is the open end of the second base  121 . The first outer diameter  161  refers to the outer diameter of the second base  121 . The detent  122  is a cylindrical post that projects perpendicularly away from the face of the second arm  102 . The detent  122  is further defined with a second outer diameter  163 . The second outer diameter  163  refers to the outer diameter of the detent  122 . 
     The span of the second outer diameter  163  of the detent  122  is lesser than the slot width  118  of the transition slot  115  such that the detent  122  can slide through the transition slot  115 . The span of the second outer diameter  163  of the detent  122  is lesser than the slot width  118  of the first lock notch  116  such that the detent  122  can rotate into and out of the first lock notch  116 . The span of the second outer diameter  163  of the detent  122  is lesser than the slot width  118  of the second lock notch  117  such that the detent  122  can rotate into and out of the second lock notch  117 . 
     The invention  100  is assembled by inserting the second open end  152  of the second arm  102  into the first open end  142  of the first arm  101  such that the detent  122  projects through the opening formed by the slide slot  113  in a manner that allows the detent  122  to slide through the slide slot  113 . 
     The span of the first inner diameter  162  of the first arm  101  is greater than the first outer diameter  161  of the second arm  102  such that the second open end  152  of the second arm  102  can be inserted into the first open end  142  of the first arm  101  such that the second arm  102  can slide within the first arm  101 . 
     The span of the length of the invention  100  can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the second arm  102  within the first arm  101  relative to the position of the first arm  101 . The length direction of the invention  100  is the direction that is parallel to the center axis of the first arm  101  and the center axis of the second arm  102  when the invention  100  is assembled in the intended manner. 
     To insert the detent  122  into the first lock notch  116  the position of the second arm  102  is adjusted relative to the position of the first arm  101  such that the center axis of the detent  122  intersects with the center axis of the first lock notch  116 . The second arm  102  is then rotated using the center axis of the second arm  102  as the center of rotation such that the detent  122  rotates into the first lock notch  116 . To remove the detent  122  from the first lock notch  116  of the slide slot  113  the second arm  102  is rotated in the opposite direction. Inserting the detent  122  into the first lock notch  116  of the slide slot  113  locks the second arm  102  into position relative to the first arm  101 . 
     To insert the detent  122  into the second lock notch  117  the position of the second arm  102  is adjusted relative to the position of the first arm  101  such that the center axis of the detent  122  intersects with the center axis of the second lock notch  117 . The second arm  102  is then rotated using the center axis of the second arm  102  as the center of rotation such that the detent  122  rotates into the second lock notch  117 . Inserting the detent  122  into the second lock notch  117  of the slide slot  113  locks the second arm  102  into position relative to the first arm  101 . To remove the detent  122  from the second lock notch  117  of the slide slot  113  the second arm  102  is rotated in the opposite direction. 
     To use the invention  100 , the second arm  102  is fully extended. Toilet paper  171  is then wrapped around the second arm  102  such that the toilet paper  171  is secured within the interstitial space  103  between the semi-cylindrical extension  112  and the second arm  102 . The invention  100  is then used as an extension of the hand to bring the toilet paper  171  to the surface to be cleansed. 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Align: As used in this disclosure, align refers to an arrangement of objects that are: 1) arranged in a straight line; or, 2) arranged to give a directional sense of a plurality of parallel lines. 
     Capped Pipe: As used in this disclosure, a capped pipe is a pipe with one closed end and one open end. 
     Center: As used in this disclosure, a center is a point that is: 1) the point within a circle that is equidistant from all the points of the circumference; 2) the point within a regular polygon that is equidistant from all the vertices of the regular polygon; 3) the point on a line that is equidistant from the ends of the line; 4) the point, pivot, or axis around which something revolves; or, 5) the centroid or first moment of an area or structure. In cases where the appropriate definition or definitions are not obvious, the fifth option should be used in interpreting the specification. 
     Center Axis: As used in this disclosure, the center axis is the axis of a cylinder or cone like structure. When the center axes of two cylinder or like structures share the same line they are said to be aligned. When the center axes of two cylinder like structures do not share the same line they are said to be offset. 
     Center of Rotation: As used in this disclosure, the center of rotation is the point of a rotating plane that does not move with the rotation of the plane. A line within a rotating three dimensional object that does not move with the rotation of the object is referred to as an axis of rotation. 
     Cylinder: As used in this disclosure, a cylinder is a geometric structure defined by two identical flat and parallel ends, also commonly referred to as bases, which are circular in shape and connected with a single curved surface, referred to in this disclosure as the face. The cross section of the cylinder remains the same from one end to another. The axis of the cylinder is formed by the straight line that connects the center of each of the two identical flat and parallel ends of the cylinder. In this disclosure, the term cylinder specifically means a right cylinder, which is defined as a cylinder wherein the curved surface perpendicularly intersects with the two identical flat and parallel ends. 
     Detent: As used in this disclosure, a detent is a device for positioning and holding one mechanical part in relation to another in a manner such that the device can be released by force applied to one or more of the parts. 
     Diameter: As used in this disclosure, a diameter of an object is a straight-line segment that passes through the center of an object. The line segment of the diameter is terminated at the perimeter or boundary of the object through which the line segment of the diameter runs. 
     Oval: As used in this disclosure, an oval is a geometric shape that is formed in the shape of a “squished” circle similar in form to an ellipse. The difference between an oval and an ellipse is that an ellipse can be described by a mathematical formula while an oval has no such description. 
     Pipe: As used in this disclosure, a pipe is a hollow cylindrical device that is used for transporting liquids and gases. The line that connects the center of the first base of the cylinder to the center of the second base of the cylinder is referred to as the axis of the cylinder or the centerline of the pipe. When two pipes share the same centerline they are said to be aligned. In this disclosure, the terms inner diameter of a pipe and outer diameter are used as they would be used by those skilled in the plumbing arts. 
     Semi-Cylinder: As used in this disclosure, a semi-cylinder is half of a cylinder that is divided lengthwise such that the center axis of the cylinder is fully contained within the dividing plane. 
     Slot: As used in this disclosure, a slot is a long narrow groove or aperture that is formed in or through an object. 
     Telescopic: As used in this disclosure, telescopic is an adjective that describes an object made of sections that fit or slide into each other such that the object can be made longer or shorter by adjusting the relative positions of the sections. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 6  include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.