Individual moistening apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for providing moistened cleaning tissues, in particular paper tissues, includes a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion which define a moistening chamber therebetween. The lower housing portion has a storage space for cleaning tissues and a support surface for a cleaning tissue to be moistened. Disposed in the upper housing portion is a spraying device or spraying a liquid in a downward direction. A metering pump is arranged in the upper housing portion and configured for manual operation via a pushbutton. The spraying device includes an elastic sheet, which forms an upper boundary of the moistening chamber and includes a plurality of through channels which are impervious to fluid in the absence of an applied pressure, and which let fluid pass through when pressure is applied.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for providing moistened cleaning tissues, in particular paper tissues, comprising: 
 a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion which define a moistening chamber therebetween, wherein the lower housing portion has a storage space for cleaning tissues and a support surface for a cleaning tissue to be moistened;    a spraying device, disposed in the upper housing portion, for spraying a liquid in a downward direction;    a metering pump disposed in the upper housing portion and configured for manual operation via a pushbutton, 
 wherein the spraying device includes an elastic sheet, which forms an upper boundary of the moistening chamber and includes a plurality of through channels which are impervious to fluid in the absence of an applied pressure, and which let fluid pass through when pressure is applied.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing portion is formed with a suction chamber bounded on one side by the sheet, wherein the suction chamber is fluidly connected to a storage container filled with a cleaning fluid and to a manually operated metering pump for drawing fluid from the storage container to the suction chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , and further comprising a check valve disposed in a supply line between the suction chamber and the storage container.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the through channels are arranged on the sheet in the form of a matrix.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the matrix is a 13×13 matrix.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is made of rubber, and further comprising a frame for attachment of the sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a mesh provided for reinforcement of the sheet and extending in parallel relationship to the sheet, with the through channels being arranged inside the screen mesh.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for individually moistening cleaning tissues, in particular paper napkins, comprising: 
 a housing having a storage container, which is filled with cleaning fluid, and including a moistening chamber, which is accessible from outside and has a lower area formed with a flat support surface for a cleaning tissue to be moistened;    at least one spray nozzle disposed in an upper area of the moistening chamber;    a manually operated metering pump for applying cleaning fluid from the storage container onto the cleaning tissue, 
 wherein the housing is essentially configured as a block to provide a freestanding unit for use in the gastronomical field on a table, said block having lateral edges and defined by a height which is smaller than a length of the lateral edges, wherein the block has a lower area, below the support surface, which is formed with a depository for receiving a stack of flat, unmoistened cleaning tissues,  
 wherein the housing is formed with compartments intended for placement of utensils.  
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the housing—as viewed in a position of use—includes a lower housing portion, which includes the flat support surface, and an upper housing portion, which is located offset in height with respect to the lower housing portion, wherein the at least one spray nozzle is disposed on a bottom side of the upper housing portion, wherein the lower and upper housing portions are connected with one another at least on one side to thereby define therebetween the moistening chamber which is open on at least one side and intended for insertion of an individual cleaning tissue which can be moistened by using the at least one spray nozzle.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion are connected in one piece with one another.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the upper housing portion partially overlaps the lower housing portion.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , and further comprising an absorbent insert received in the housing and having one side which defines the flat support surface.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the absorbent insert is a sponge insert.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , and further comprising a pull-out tray which defines the support surface for the cleaning tissue to be moistened and is insertable with the cleaning tissue resting on the tray into the moistening chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one spray nozzle is arranged on the bottom side of the upper housing portion.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the upper housing portion is formed as a hollow body for accommodating supply lines between the storage container and the manually operated metering pump.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , and further comprising a connecting piece extending between the lower and upper housing portions and formed as a hollow body for accommodation of the storage container.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , and further comprising a swivel foot connected to a bottom side of the housing for allowing rotation of the housing about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the moistening chamber is open on three sides.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the housing has one side formed with a rectangular opening to form an open side of the moistening chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the storage container for the cleaning fluid is arranged on a rear side of the housing and provided with a level indicator.  
     
     
         22 . A use of an apparatus for individually moistening cleaning tissues, in particular paper napkins, which includes a spray unit arranged in a housing, for application in a gastronomical environment.