HANDHELD DEVICES FOR MANUALLY CLEANING BODY ORIFICES

• US 20080300527A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce R. Bivins
• Original Assignee: Bruce R. Bivins
• Inventors: Bivins, Bruce R.
• Application Number:
  US11/757,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/006 Ear cleaners, e.g. curettes cotton tips A61F13/38; cleaning by suction A61M1/71, by irrigation A61M3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/38 Swabs having a stick-type handle, e.g. cotton tips ear cleaners other than cotton tips A61F11/006; swabs containing a liquid, e.g. in a rupturable reservoir, A61M35/006

Abstract

Disposable handheld devices for manually cleaning nostrils and/or other body orifices are disclosed herein. A device configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a shaft having a first end portion spaced apart from a second end portion to define a first exterior surface portion therebetween with at least one ridge portion extending outwardly therefrom. The device can further include a first tip portion positioned toward the first end portion of the shaft and a second tip portion positioned toward the second end portion of the shaft. The first tip portion can include a second ridge portion extending outwardly from a second exterior surface portion. The second tip portion can include a third ridge portion extending outwardly from a third exterior surface portion.

Claims

1. A disposable handheld device for manually cleaning a body orifice, the device comprising:

a shaft having;

a first end portion;

a second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion to define a first exterior surface portion therebetween, the first exterior surface portion having a first diameter; and

a first ridge portion extending outwardly from the first exterior surface portion;

a first tip portion positioned toward the first end portion of the shaft, the first tip portion having;

a second exterior surface portion defining a first generally conical shape having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; and

a second ridge portion extending outwardly from the second exterior surface portion; and

a second tip portion positioned toward the second end portion of the shaft;

the second tip portion having;

a third exterior surface portion defining a second generally conical shape having a third diameter greater than the first diameter; and

a third ridge portion extending outwardly from the third exterior surface portion.

2. The disposable handheld device of claim 1 wherein the second ridge portion describes a generally helical path around the second exterior surface portion and the third ridge portion describes a generally helical path around the third exterior surface portion.

3. The disposable handheld device of claim 1 wherein the first ridge portion describes a generally helical path around the first exterior surface portion,

4. The disposable handheld device of claim 1, further comprising a scented medium applied to the first and second tip portions.

5. The disposable handheld device of claim 4 wherein the scented medium includes an herbal scent.

6. The disposable handheld device of claim 1 wherein the first tip portion includes a first cotton body and the second tip portion includes a second cotton body.

7. The disposable handheld device of claim 1 wherein the first tip portion includes a first foam body and the second tip portion includes a second foam body.

8. A disposable handheld device for manually cleaning a body orifice, the device comprising:

a shaft comprising a first end portion spaced apart from a second end portion; and

a tip portion positioned toward the first end portion of the shaft, the tip portion including;

an exterior surface; and

a ridge portion extending outwardly from the exterior surface.

9. The disposable handheld device of claim 8 wherein the tip portion is a first tip portion, the exterior surface is a first exterior surface, the ridge portion is a first ridge portion, and further comprising a second tip portion positioned toward the second end portion of the shaft, the second tip portion including:

a second exterior surface; and

a second ridge portion extending outwardly from the second exterior surface.

10. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the shaft further comprises:

a third exterior surface between the first and second end portions; and

a plurality of third ridge portions extending outwardly from the third exterior surface.

11. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the shaft further comprises:

a third exterior surface between the first and second end portions; and

a third ridge portion that extends outwardly from the third exterior surface.

12. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the shaft defines a first cross-sectional dimension, the first exterior surface has a first shape defining a second cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension, and the second exterior surface has a second shape defining a third cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension.

13. The disposable handheld device of claim 12 wherein the first and second shapes are at least generally conical.

14. The disposable handheld device of claim 12 wherein the first and second shapes are at least generally cylindrical.

15. The disposable handheld device of claim 12 wherein the first and second shapes are at least generally ellipsoidal.

16. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the first ridge portion describes a generally helical path around the first exterior surface and the second ridge portion describes a generally helical path around the second exterior surface.

17. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the first ridge portion describes a generally horizontal path around the first exterior surface.

18. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the first ridge portion describes a generally vertical path around the first exterior surface.

19. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the first ridge portion describes a generally curvilinear path around the first exterior surface.

20. The disposable handheld device of claim 9, further comprising a medicinal medium applied to the first tip portion and the second tip portion.

21. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the first tip portion and the second tip portion include a first material having a first density, and wherein the first ridge portion and the second ridge portion include a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density.

22. The disposable handheld device of claim 9 wherein the first tip portion includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the first exterior surface extends over both the upper portion and the lower portion, the first ridge portion extends outwardly from the first exterior surface extending over the upper portion and further comprising a third ridge portion extending outwardly from the first exterior surface extending over the lower portion.

23. The disposable handheld device of claim 22 wherein the first ridge portion and the third ridge portion describe different orientations around the first exterior surface.

24. A personal hygiene device comprising:

first means for engaging debris within a body orifice, the first means including;

a first exterior surface; and

a first raised portion extending outwardly from the first exterior surface;

second means for engaging debris within the body orifice, the second means comprising;

a second exterior surface; and

a second raised portion extending outwardly from the second exterior surface; and

means for operably coupling the first and second means to opposing end portions of a manipulatable handle.

25. The disposable handheld device of claim 24 wherein the handle includes a third exterior surface with means for gripping the handle that extend outwardly from the third exterior surface.

26. The disposable handheld device of claim 24 wherein the first and second means include aromatic means for providing a scent.