Abstract:
A hygiene device for moisturizing tissue paper (or TP) comprising:
       a load-chamber configured to contain a fluid load;   a load-exit configured to direct the fluid load to moisturize a TP;   a load-exit-seal configured to open and close the load-exit;   a piston configured to alter the load-exit-seal from the states of being opened and from being closed; and   a volume-compressor connected to the piston and configured to pressurize the load-chamber to substantially expel the fluid load;
           wherein compression of the piston opens the load-exit-seal, and pressurizes the load-chamber.

Description:
SUMMARY 
       [0001]    This invention intends to provide a hygiene device for moisturizing tissue paper (or TP). The TP used with this invention may be at least one square of commercially available bathroom tissue. 
         [0002]    Fluid may be dispensed from the device using a combination of forces including; gravitation, compression, air pressure, or water pressure. 
         [0003]    Parts 
         [0004]    The device may comprise of a reservoir, an applicator, a valve, and a piston. 
         [0005]    The valve may comprise of a washer, a seal, a diaphragm, an entrance, and an exit. 
         [0006]    The piston may comprise of a housing, a chamber, a spring, a spring compressor, a volume compressor, and a ratchet. 
         [0007]    Collectively these parts may function to contain and dispense incremental quantities of a fluid. 
         [0008]    The quantities of fluid may be greater than 0.5 mL, less than 5.0 mL and preferably 1.0 mL. 
         [0009]    The housing and the reservoir may be mated and fluidicly connected so that the housing functions as a leak proof bottle closure for the reservoir. 
         [0010]    The reservoir may be fluidicly connected to the chamber and the applicator to apply fluid to a TP where it is wholly absorbed. 
         [0011]    Piston 
         [0012]    The housing may contain the chamber that contains the piston. 
         [0013]    The piston may move up and down inside the chamber. 
         [0014]    The piston may be subjected to be moved directly or indirectly by the applicator or the spring. 
         [0015]    The applicator may have an axis of motion for a user to interact with to access the piston. 
         [0016]    The applicator may be manufactured as separate parts and assembled around housing obstructions so that the applicator may protrude from the housing without falling out. 
         [0017]    The piston may use a seal that can seal and unseal the chamber from the reservoir and from the applicator. 
         [0018]    The piston may alternate between a combination of states of sealing and unsealing the chamber from the reservoir and from the applicator. 
         [0019]    The piston may use a volume compressor to create a pressure inside the chamber to expel fluid. 
         [0020]    The piston may use a volume compressor to create a negative pressure inside the chamber replenish fluid. 
         [0021]    The piston may oppose the spring using a spring-compressor and compress the spring against the housing. 
         [0022]    The spring may oppose the piston using the spring-compressor and compress the piston against a stationary housing-landing. 
         [0023]    The spring-compressor may be permeable by fluid to so that it does not obstruct the passage of fluid. 
         [0024]    Chamber 
         [0025]    The chamber may contain fluid replenished from the reservoir. 
         [0026]    The chamber may alternate between a combination of states of being sealed and unsealed from the reservoir and from the applicator. 
         [0027]    The chamber in an undisturbed state may begin being unsealed from a reservoir and sealed from an applicator. 
         [0028]    The chamber in a disturbed state may become sealed from a reservoir and unsealed from an applicator. 
         [0029]    The chamber may be sealed from inside the chamber walls or outside the chamber walls. 
         [0030]    Operation 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, upon a user applying a force on to an applicator, the force pushes up a piston inside a chamber. 
         [0032]    This force causes the piston to simultaneously seal the chamber from the reservoir and unseal the chamber from the applicator. 
         [0033]    This force also compresses a spring and moves a volume compressor into the chamber causing the chamber&#39;s fluidic volume to decrease thereby causing fluid inside the chamber to be pressurized and expelled out the unsealed applicator. 
         [0034]    The quantity of fluid expelled is wholly absorbed into the TP. 
         [0035]    When the force is exhausted, the spring expands and pushes down the piston, the volume compressor, and the applicator to substantially return to their initial positions. 
         [0036]    The volume compressor pushed down creates a negative pressure in the chamber that can draw fluid into the chamber from the reservoir. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the device may not use a chamber. 
         [0038]    When a user applies a force to push up the applicator, the force pushes up a piston and causes the piston to unseal the reservoir from the applicator. 
         [0039]    Fluid can then fluid flow from the unsealed reservoir out the applicator to be wholly absorbed by TP. 
         [0040]    The force also compresses a spring. 
         [0041]    Thus when the force is exhausted, the spring expands and pushes down the piston, and the applicator to substantially return to their initial positions. 
         [0042]    Vent holes in the reservoir are used to equalize pressures inside the reservoir with the external environment to aid the flow of fluid. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment, a ratchet may be placed between the applicator and the piston. 
         [0044]    The applicator, the ratchet, and the housing may all have teeth that engage each other to partition movements into increments that cause clicking sounds and tactile vibrations as feedback. 
         [0045]    The device may provide a visual, audio, or vibrational feedback to the user when it is engaged to dispense fluid. 
         [0046]    The device may receive air from an external environment so the atmospheric pressure inside the reservoir is the same as the external environment. 
         [0047]    Air travelling inside the device may produce a sound and visual display of bubbles. 
         [0048]    Volume 
         [0049]    The device may dispense a measured volume of fluid over a specified area of TP. 
         [0050]    The quantity of fluid dispensed may vary with the time interval the device is engaged by a user. 
         [0051]    This can occur if the piston in the chamber is held in a position where both the fluid entrance and fluid exit are unsealed thereby allowing a continuous flow of fluid from the reservoir through to the applicator. 
         [0052]    This can also occur if the piston without a chamber is held in a position where the fluid exit is unsealed thereby allowing a continuous flow of fluid from the reservoir through to the applicator. 
         [0053]    Extras 
         [0054]    A mounting bracket may mate with the device and be affixed to a surface next to a TP supply or TP holder. 
         [0055]    Levers and latches may be used to secure and release the device from the mated position with the mounting bracket. 
         [0056]    Fragrances and antiseptics may be used in the fluid. 
         [0057]    Heating implements may be used to increase the temperature of the fluid. 
         [0058]    Electrically powered optical sensor implements may be used to detect if a user is supplying a TP to be moisturized and initiate the device to dispense fluid and thus replace the need for the user to compress TP against the device. 
         [0059]    The device may use a security lock to prevent tampering and theft of contents. 
         [0060]    A cap may encapsulate the applicator and the replenishment opening to prevent tampering. 
         [0061]    Accessory Parts 
         [0062]    A replenishment opening may be used to provide a path between the reservoir and an external environment to facilitate replenishing fluid inside the reservoir. 
         [0063]    A replenishment opening may function as a vent to equalize air pressure in the reservoir. 
         [0064]    A valve may be mated with the replenishment opening. 
         [0065]    An external implement may penetrate the replenishment opening and may be configured to replenish fluid inside the device by passing fluid into the device and depleting air and gas inside the device. 
         [0066]    The external implement may further comprise of passages, valves, seals, and diaphragms configured to utilize the Venturi Effect during fluid replenishment to automatically stop replenishment when the reservoir is substantially full. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0067]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device and mounting bracket with TP moisturized. 
           [0068]      FIG. 2 a    is a cross section of the piston when uncompressed. 
           [0069]      FIG. 2 b    is a cross section of the piston when compressed. 
           [0070]      FIG. 3 a    is an explosion view of the piston and reservoir assembly. 
           [0071]      FIG. 3 b    is as flattened perspective of the housing surface. 
           [0072]      FIG. 3 c    is as flattened perspective of the housing, applicator, and ratchet. 
           [0073]      FIGS. 3 d , 3 e , 3 f , 3 g , and 3 h    are flattened perspectives of an assembly of the housing, applicator, and ratchet arrangements. 
           [0074]      FIG. 4 a    is a cross section of the piston without a chamber when uncompressed. 
           [0075]      FIG. 4 b    is a cross section of the piston without a chamber when compressed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0076]    In the following description, the use of “a”, “an”, or “the” can refer to the plural. All examples given are for clarification only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , 
         [0078]    a device for moisturizing TP includes: 
         [0079]    a reservoir  10 , 
         [0080]    a mounting bracket  11 , 
         [0081]    a housing  12 , 
         [0082]    and an applicator  13 . 
         [0083]    The reservoir  10  may be a glass, plastic, or metal container. 
         [0084]    The reservoir  10  may be oriented with the applicator  13  at a lower elevation than the top surface of the fluid inside the reservoir  10 . 
         [0085]    The mounting bracket  11  may be designed in several configurations to secure the positioning of the device and to resist forces applied to the device by a user  15 . 
         [0086]    The housing  12  may partially contain the applicator  13  wherein the applicator  13  protrudes out the housing  12 . 
         [0087]    The housing  12  restricts the applicator  13  to a linear axis of motion with no rotation. 
         [0088]    The applicator  13  expels out fluid from the reservoir  10  inside the device to be wholly absorbed by the TP  14 . 
         [0089]    The housing  12  and applicator  13  may be oriented so that the applicator  13  has a vertical axis of motion. 
         [0090]    Referring to  FIG. 2 a   , in an embodiment the reservoir  10  is connected to the housing  12 . 
         [0091]    Fluid in the reservoir  10  travels through the load entrance  21   a  into the load chamber  21 . 
         [0092]    The fluid may not leak out of the load chamber  21  because the load exit seal  20   b  is closed. 
         [0093]    The piston  20  is primarily positioned inside the load chamber  21  along with a spring  22 . 
         [0094]    The piston  20  has extremities including a load entrance seal  20   a,  a load exit seal  20   b,  and a volume compressor  20   d.    
         [0095]    The volume compressor  20   d  penetrates the housing perforation  12   c.    
         [0096]    The housing landing  12   b  is below the spring  22  and constricts the spring  22  into tension with the spring-compressor  20   c.    
         [0097]    The ratchet  23  is between the applicator  13  and the piston  20  and provides a movement intermediary that aids the partition of applicator  13  movements into separate increments that may cause clicking sounds and tactile vibrations. 
         [0098]    In operation, when the device is not disturbed, the spring  22  has enough tension force to keep the spring compressor  20   c  substantially compressed against the housing landing  12   b.    
         [0099]    The force of the spring  22  keeps the piston  20  down and the load exit  21   b  closed thereby preventing fluid from exiting the load chamber  21 . 
         [0100]    The force of the spring  22  keeps the load entrance  21  a open so that fluid can enter the load chamber  21  flow from the reservoir  10 . 
         [0101]    The force of the spring  22  keeps the applicator  13  down and restricted in the housing  12 . (Note this is not precisely depicted here due to the depicted space between the volume compressor  20   d  and the ratchet  23 .) 
         [0102]    Referring to  FIG. 2   b,    
         [0103]    when a user  15  engages the device, TP  14  is compressed against the applicator  13  which is subjected to the axis of movement provided by the housing  12  and opposed by the resistance force provided by the spring  22 . 
         [0104]    As the applicator  13  moves up through the housing  12 , it pushes up the ratchet  23 , the volume compressor  20   d,  the piston  20  including all its extremities, and compresses the spring  22 . 
         [0105]    In operation, when the applicator  13  is pushed up, the load entrance  21   a  is closed by the load entrance seal  20   a  preventing more fluid from entering the load chamber  21 , and the load exit seal  20   b  is opened allowing fluid inside the load chamber  21  to go out the load exit  21   b.    
         [0106]    As the volume compressor  20   d  is pushed up into the load chamber  21 , the fluidic volume of the load chamber  21  decreases by more than any increases thereby caused. 
         [0107]    The decrease in volume creates a pressure inside the fluid chamber  21 . 
         [0108]    This pressure urges fluid inside the load chamber  21  to be expelled out the load exit  21   b,  through the applicator  13 , and onto the TP  14 . 
         [0109]    The spring  22  is compressed between the spring compressor  20   c  and the housing  12 . 
         [0110]    When the upward force supplied by the applicator  13  is exhausted, the spring  22  expands and pushes down all the respective parts down the housing  12  and thereby seals the load exit  21   b  and refills the load chamber  21  by opening the load entrance seal  20   a  as shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0111]    The ratchet  23  in operation will be discussed more thoroughly in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0112]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 a    and  3   b,    
         [0113]    the applicator  13  fits inside the housing  12  and moves along the housing inner raised surface  32 . 
         [0114]    The applicator  13  has an applicator guide  13   a  to guide it along housing groves  33  on the inner raised surface  32  so that the applicator  13  has a fixed axis of motion and cannot rotate. 
         [0115]    The housing pillar  12   a  penetrates the ratchet  23  and the applicator  13  through the ratchet core  23   b  and the applicator core  13   c.    
         [0116]    The housing pillar  12   a  is connected to the housing landing  12   b  which remains stationary inside the housing  12 . 
         [0117]    The housing landing  12   b  may manufactured as separate piece that can be fitted, glued, welded, or sonic welded onto the housing  12 . 
         [0118]    The applicator  13  has a set of applicator teeth  13   b,  the ratchet  23  has a set of ratchet teeth  23   a,  and the housing  12  has a set of housing teeth  31 . 
         [0119]    The housing teeth  31  are on the housing inner surface  30 . 
         [0120]    The ratchet  23  can rotate inside the housing  12  around the housing pillar  12   a.    
         [0121]    The ratchet  23  can move up and down inside the housing  12  along the housing pillar  12   a.    
         [0122]    The ratchet  23  has its lowest elevation when the peak of ratchet teeth  23   a  are engaged with the bottom of the housing teeth  31 . 
         [0123]    The spring compressor  20   c,  and the housing  12  are hexagonally shaped so that the piston  20  cannot rotate thereby helping ensure the volume compressor  20   d  is aligned to penetrate the housing perforation  12   c.    
         [0124]    In operation, when the user  15  pushes up the applicator  13 , the initial contact between the applicator teeth  13   b  and the ratchet teeth  23   a  is along their respective diagonal surfaces wherein the bottoms of the applicator teeth  13   b  and the peak of the ratchet teeth  23   a  do not contact. 
         [0125]    As the applicator  13  moves up it pushes up the ratchet teeth  23   a  which are subject to move up along the vertical walls of the housing teeth  31 . 
         [0126]    Eventually when the ratchet teeth  23   a  move above the vertical walls of the housing teeth  31 , the ratchet teeth  23   a  will be unrestricted to suddenly move down and rotate until they meet the bottoms of the applicator teeth  13   b.    
         [0127]    This downward rotational movement by the ratchet  23  is caused by the compression force of the spring  22 . 
         [0128]    The collision of the ratchet teeth  23   a  with the bottoms of the applicator teeth  13   b  will create a first clicking sound and tactile vibration. 
         [0129]    As the ratchet  23  continues to be pushed up by the force on the applicator  13 , it pushes up the volume compressor  20   d  and enters the chamber  21  where it creates a pressure force. 
         [0130]    As the ratchet  23  continues to be pushed up, it also pushes up the piston  20 , and the spring compressor  20   c,  and compresses the spring  22 . 
         [0131]    When the user  15  begins to disengage the applicator  13 , the compression force of the spring  22  pushes down the spring compressor  20   c,  the volume compressor  20   d,  the piston  20 , the ratchet  23 , and the applicator  13 . 
         [0132]    As the ratchet  23  comes down it is restricted and obstructed by the applicator  13 . 
         [0133]    Eventually the ratchet teeth  23   a  will contact the housing teeth  31  which will subject the ratchet teeth  23   a  to disengage from the applicator teeth  13   b  and the ratchet teeth  23   a  will suddenly be unrestricted to move along the diagonal surface of housing teeth  31 . 
         [0134]    This allows the ratchet  23  to suddenly rotate and cause the collision of the vertical surfaces of ratchet teeth  23   a  and housing teeth  31  thereby creating a second clicking sound and tactile vibration. 
         [0135]    Referring to  FIG. 3   c,    
         [0136]    the applicator  13 , the ratchet  23 , and the housing inner raised surface  32  collectively have layers that interact. 
         [0137]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 d , 3 e , 3 f , 3 g   , and  3   h,    
         [0138]    the applicator  13 , the housing inner surface  32 , and the ratchet  23  may interact with each other to open and close the load exit  21   b  with a precision dictated by the timing the parts move and interact. 
         [0139]    Referring to  FIG. 3   d,    
         [0140]    the ratchet  23  is at its lowest elevation where the ratchet teeth  23   a  are interlocked with the housing teeth  31 . 
         [0141]    The applicator  13  is at its lowest elevation where the applicator teeth  13   b  do not touch the ratchet teeth  23   a.    
         [0142]    The applicator guides  13   a,  are subject to move along the path provided by the housing groves  33 . 
         [0143]    The load exit  21   b  is sealed. 
         [0144]    Referring to  FIG. 3   e,    
         [0145]    the applicator  13  pushes up the ratchet  23 . 
         [0146]    The ratchet teeth  23   a  are subject to move up along the vertical surface of the housing teeth  31 . 
         [0147]    The load exit  21   b  is opened. 
         [0148]    Referring to  FIG. 3   f,    
         [0149]    the applicator  13  has reached maximum elevation allowed by the housing groves  33 . 
         [0150]    The applicator  13  has pushed the ratchet teeth  23   a  above the vertical surface of the housing teeth  31 . 
         [0151]    The ratchet  23  is unrestricted to move down and rotate to the right. This would be encouraged by compression force of the spring  22 . 
         [0152]    Referring to  FIG. 3   g,    
         [0153]    the ratchet  23  has moved down and rotated to the right and thereby allowed the piston  20  and its extremities to move down and seal the load exit  21   b.    
         [0154]    The ratchet teeth  23   a  collide with the bottom of the applicator teeth  13   b  and create a first clicking sound and tactile vibration. 
         [0155]    The applicator  13  is still at its maximum elevation. 
         [0156]    Referring to  FIG. 3   h,    
         [0157]    the applicator  13  is lowered and the applicator teeth  13   b  disengage from the ratchet teeth  23   a.    
         [0158]    The ratchet teeth  23   a  collide with the housing teeth  31  and create a second clicking sound and tactile vibration. 
         [0159]    The ratchet  23  is now at its lowest elevation. 
         [0160]    Referring to  FIG. 4   a,    
         [0161]    in another embodiment, the load chamber  21 , and volume compressor  20   d  are excluded. 
         [0162]    The load exit seal  20   b  is inside the reservoir  10  where it seals the load exit  21   b.    
         [0163]    The housing landing  12   b  is above the spring  22  and constricts the spring  22  into tension with the spring-compressor  20   c.    
         [0164]    When the device is at rest, the spring  22  pushes down the spring compressor  20   c  which pulls down the piston  20  and the load exit seal  20   b  thereby sealing the load exit  21   b.    
         [0165]    Referring to  FIG. 4   b,    
         [0166]    when the user  15  pushes up the applicator  13 , it pushes the ratchet  23 , which pushes the spring compressor  20   c,  which pushes up the piston  20 , which compresses the spring  22 , and unseals the load exit seal  20   b  and opens the load exit  21   b.    
         [0167]    Vents  40  allow air pressure in the reservoir  10  to equalize with the external environment. 
         [0168]    Fluid in the reservoir  10  is free to flow down through the load exit  21   b,  and through the housing  12 , ratchet core  23   b,  applicator core  13   c,  and moisturize TP  14  held against the applicator  13 . 
         [0169]    The spring  22  is compressed between the spring compressor  20   c  and the housing landing  12   b.    
         [0170]    When a user  15  disengages the device, the spring  22  expands and pushes back down all the respective parts down the housing  12  thereby sealing the load exit  21   b.