US20040111071A1 - Portable device for dispensing hand treatments - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises an arm-mountable device for the discharge of hand treatment medications into the palm of the hand. In it simplest embodiment, the device is a compressible squeeze bladder with nozzle that is affixed to the underside of the wrist with a wristband. The contents of the bladder are ejected in a small burst to the palm of the hand upon initiation of compression of the bladder by the free hand. Features of various advanced embodiments include pressure multiplying squeeze bladders, plunger-based devices, and adjustable nozzles.

Description

BACKGROUNDPRIOR ART
• The increase in bacterial immunity to modern antibiotics is problematic and one of the chief vectors of infection is the human hand. Hence, when not in the proximity of a washroom to disinfect one's hands, it would be useful to have a means to accomplish such sanitation. Also, in the midst of daily activities, it can be inconvenient to uncap bottles of disinfecting gels or hand lotions to otherwise treat the hands.[0001]
• Fortunately, it has been established that ethyl alcohol is a most effective antiseptic for gram-negative pathogens; it is of low viscosity, easily dispensed from a portable container, and does not require the use of a material wipe or cloth because of the speed of its evaporation. Further, an adequate dose for sanitizing the hands comprises but a few drops of this antiseptic. To prevent chafing, glycerin can be added to the alcohol without levels of viscosity increase that would be deleterious to the dispensing process.[0002]
• Various methods of portable disinfectant or lotion dispensers have been disclosed in the prior art. These include body-mounted dispensers, wrist bracelet dispensers, and others. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,946 discloses a dispensing tube that drips liquid onto the hand. U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,898 discloses a tube-fed finger dispenser. A body worn dispenser of form factor similar to a pager is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,548.[0003]
• What has not been demonstrated is a dispenser that can be surreptitiously actuated. This is an important consideration with respect to public relations. Individuals such as business and sales personnel may come in contact with and greet many people during the day. It would be desirable to have the option of sanitizing the hands after a handshake with a person without conveying a disdainful message to that person.[0004]
• Additionally, a wrist-mounted dispenser that achieves dispensing directly to the hand with a simple hand action is another advantage of the present invention. This would be especially useful to nurses and doctors in busy hospital settings, as well as to allied health care workers who cannot take time to repeatedly wash their hands with soap and water.[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention discloses a wrist or forearm-mounted device for dispensing a small amount of alcohol-based disinfectant hand rub, moisturizer, or other hand medicament. Even powder-based hand treatments can be dispensed using the present invention. A wristband or other means affix the device to the underside of the arm, above the wrist. In the preferred embodiment, the device is in the form of a thin, conformal squeeze bottle with a fluid stream-producing nozzle. When actuated, it dispenses a short jet of liquid into the palm or onto the fingers of the hand above which it is mounted. In an advanced embodiment, the bottle is of a pressure-multiplying design that shoots a single “dose” of liquid under pressure when mildly squeezed by the fingers of the free hand.[0006]
• Because only a few drops of alcohol-based disinfectant comprise a dose adequate to achieve sanitation of the hands, the device can dispense hundreds of doses of disinfectant before requiring refill or disposal. It can be used at any orientation of the arm and will avoid leakage when not actuated. In an advanced embodiment, very light compression of the device with one or more fingers of the alternate hand will generate a pressurized jet of disinfectant that is easily captured by the target hand. The dispensing device can be fabricated from pliable plastic and can be disposable. Other embodiments of the invention include actuation means on the top side of the wrist, adjustable nozzles, and pressurized and electromechanical actuation.[0007]
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
• Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:[0008]
• (a) Provide a convenient, portable means for dispensing hand treatments;[0009]
• (b) Provide a cost-effective means for dispensing hand treatments;[0010]
• (c) Provide an unobtrusive means of dispensing hand treatments;[0011]
• (d) Provide an easily actuated means of dispensing hand treatments;[0012]
• (e) Provide an arm-mounted disposable means of dispensing hand treatments.[0013]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1[0014]ais a pictorial diagram of a dispenser mounted on the underside of the wrist.
• FIG. 1[0015]bis a pictorial diagram of the actuation of the wrist-mounted dispenser.
• FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of a dispenser embodiment featuring actuation from the top of the wrist.[0016]
• FIG. 3[0017]ais a pictorial diagram of a dispenser and wrist attachment means.
• FIG. 3[0018]bis a side view of Velcro attachment means.
• FIG. 3[0019]cis a pictorial view of snap attachment means.
• FIG. 4[0020]ais a cross-sectional view of a simple squeeze dispenser.
• FIG. 4[0021]bis a cross-sectional view of a pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser.
• FIG. 4[0022]cis a plan view of components of the nozzle assembly of the pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser.
• FIG. 4[0023]dis a pictorial view of the hidden components of the nozzle assembly of the pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser.
• FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of wrist motion actuation of a plunger-based dispenser.[0024]
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art plunger.[0025]
• FIG. 7[0026]ais a cross-sectional view of a pressure-multiplying plunger dispenser.
• FIG. 7[0027]bis a pictorial view of components of the pressure-multiplying plunger dispenser.
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable nozzle.[0028]
• FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a dispenser with a flow adjusting nozzle.[0029]
• The following definitions serve to clarify the disclosed and claimed invention:[0030]
• Bladder refers to an elastic, resilient container that can be deformed under compression.[0031]
• Pressure-multiplying refers to those devices relying on the technique of increasing, by mechanical advantage, the compression pressure of a working fluid. This is achieved by use of an ejection fluid-containing tube that penetrates an ejection fluid-containing piston under the influence of the working fluid.[0032]
• Hand treatment material comprises any of a host of liquid, powder, gel, or aerosol medications, or sanitizing agents that are topically-applied to the hands. Examples include alcohol, glycerin, moisturizing lotions, and desiccating powders.[0033]
• Working fluid refers to the fluid which transfers manual pressure to the material to be dispensed. Such transfer of pressure can occur in one or multiple stages and typical working fluids include air contained in a squeeze bottle as well as liquid versions of the hand treatment material itself.[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is useful for dispensing either hand lotions such as moisturizers or disinfectants; even powders can be dispensed in powder-aerosol form. Typically the active ingredient in hand antiseptics such as Purel is ethyl alcohol. This is fortuitous because it is a relatively non-toxic liquid that exhibits low viscosity over the temperature range of interest for this application. This makes delivery of a directed stream of fluid relatively easy. In contrast to liquid, alcohol gels are useful in that they do not run and although they will require more force to dispense than liquid, such higher viscosity disinfectant or moisturizing formulations can be accommodated in differing embodiments of the present invention. Various means of dispensing the aforementioned hand treatments are feasible and can be tailored to type of material to be dispensed. In all cases, the target location for deposition of the hand treatment is some region of the underside of the hand, either fingers or palm. The preferred embodiment for a means of dispensing hand cleaning dosages is a device that attaches to the underside of the forearm and can be worn unobtrusively underneath a long-sleeved shirt. If only a long-sleeved shirt is worn as opposed to a jacket, the device would need to be conformal in nature and better match the shape of the arm or be of sufficiently low profile.[0035]
• Various approaches can be used to create the fluid dispenser. In a simple squeeze compartment design, a bladder reservoir expels fluid upon application to the bladder itself. In a plunger-based design, a syringe-type plunger causes the fluid in a reservoir to be expelled upon application of force to the plunger. Spray or squirting mechanisms analogous to squirt guns use a more specialized plunger mechanism and include a nozzle. A drip system would rely on gravity feeding of the liquid through an orifice for delivery to the hand. More elaborate schemes include use of a prime mover such as a miniature electrical actuator or pump.[0036]
• Following is a taxonomy of dispenser types identified[0037]
• Squeeze[0038]
• simple compression[0039]
• pressure multiplied compression[0040]
• Plunger[0041]
• simple plunger[0042]
• pressure multiplied plunger[0043]
• same hand-actuated[0044]
• Drip[0045]
• Gas Pressurized[0046]
• disposable[0047]
• gas cartridge[0048]
• Pump[0049]
• thermoelectrically-heated working fluid[0050]
• electromechanical[0051]
• Remote control using low power radio frequency means and single chip receivers[0052]
• Basic Configuration[0053]
• The simplest reduction to practice would be a low profile bladder mounted on the underside of a given arm that is squeezed by the hand of the alternate arm so that a stream of hand treatment material is dispensed. This is depicted in FIGS. 1[0054]aand1b. Shown is a thin bladder1 mounted on the underside of the wrist by means of some form of wristband3. The device is shown to have a nozzle assembly5 and, optionally, a cappedrefill aperture7. A finger depression area9 is highlighted. Alternatively, the wristband itself can be part of the dispenser as shown in FIG. 2. A working fluid whether air or liquid can fill a portion or all of thewristband13. Upon depression of thearea15 atop the wristband, pressure can be conveyed to the dispensing bladder underneath the wrist to cause a stream to be ejected into the hand. This can be especially effective in the pressure-multiplying dispenser discussed below. A three-dimensional depiction of the dispensing bladder is provided in FIG. 3a. Thebladder21 can be formed from soft, pliable plastic such as polyethylene or other plastic not attacked by the chemical constituents of the hand treatment. Anozzle assembly23 is shown with a centrally-locatednozzle aperture25. Thebladder21 can be made integral withwristband19 or as shown in FIGS. 3band3c, made attachable to the wristband. In FIG. 3b, thebladder21 is shown attachable to thewristband19 by Velcro component strips31 and33. FIG. 3cdepicts the use ofsnap elements35 on thewristband19 that mate with snap element counterparts on the side of the bladder. Another approach is to use clips that would attach to a wristwatch band.
• FIG. 4[0055]ais cross-sectional view of a simple embodiment comprising asqueeze bottle36. Internal to thesqueeze bottle36 are shown an air volume37 and a hand treatment material-filledpliable bladder38. Upon squeezingbottle36, the pressure of air volume37 is conveyed to filledbladder38 so that hand treatment material is ejected from check valve-controlledchannel39. The check valve in this channel prevents leakage, but allows ejection of hand treatment material under pressure.
• Upon release of pressure to bottle[0056]36, air is allowed to enter check valve-controlledchannel40 so as to replace the volume of hand treatment material ejected. The segregation of air and hand treatment material volumes permits the use of the device at any orientation with respect to gravity.
• Pressure-Multiplying Squeeze Dispenser[0057]
• A more sophisticated embodiment of the invention makes use of a pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser. Such a dispenser provides relatively high pressure ejection of fluid upon application of relatively little manual pressure. This allows good fluid stream formation and control over its trajectory to the target hand. For this reason U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,794 and 5,289,948 are hereby incorporated by reference thereto. In the first of these patents, the fundamental concept of a pressure-multiplying piston is disclosed. A pressure amplification is achieved that is equal to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the pressure-multiplying piston to the cross-sectional area of a tube penetrating the pressure-multiplying piston.[0058]
• Necessary to the present invention is means to allow the dispenser to operate independent of its orientation with respect to the gravity field and the need to insure leak-proof operation. The pressure multiplying concept is adapted to the present invention to achieve these goals as shall be described by reference to FIG. 4[0059]b, a cross-sectional view of a pressure-multiplying version of this invention. Shown is an outer bladder41 having anoutput nozzle assembly63 and a refill port withcap74.
• Interior to the bladder[0060]41 is an even morepliable bladder45 that segregates the volume of the bladder41 into an air-filledspace43 and a fluid filledspace87. As can be understood, this is for the purpose of allowing operation independent of orientation with respect to gravity, in the same fashion as the embodiment of FIG. 4a. Upon compression of bladder41, air involume43 causes compressive pressure on fluid-filledbladder45. This pressure is transferred to fluid-filledmoveable cylinder49 which translates within anouter guide cylinder47.Cylinder49 has been filled with fluid by virtue of port51 on the side ofcylinder47 near its base. Ascylinder49 is caused to translate upward, port51 is sealed by the wall ofcylinder47 so that the pressure offluid53 insidecylinder49 is applied to the end oftube assembly83. Similarly, ascylinder49 begins upward translation,air intake port58 is sealed by the wall ofcylinder49 so that air in volume89 is exhausted throughchannel61. The pressure of the fluid inchannel81 oftube assembly83 is increased over the pressure of the fluid inbladder45 by the ratio of the cross-sectional area ofcylinder49 to the cross-sectional area of the end oftube assembly83.
• As[0061]cylinder49 travels upward against the preload provided byspring57 which is in turn captivated byspring seat59, the air involume43 opens spring-loadedgate valve assembly73 so as to allow fluid to be ejected fromchannel81. Retainingprotrusions55 on the inside wall ofcylinder47 limit the upward travel of fluid-filledcylinder49 in dispensing of a single dose of hand treatment. After the maximum amount of fluid involume53 ofcylinder49 is ejected at the limit of travel forcylinder49 and upon removal of actuation pressure to bladder41,cylinder49 under spring tension travels back downward intobladder45. Retainingflange52 limits the downward travel ofcylinder47. Ascylinder49 descends, its interior is under a partial vacuum and upon exposure of port51 to the fluid involume87 by way ofport57 in the wall ofcylinder47, the interior ofcylinder49 is refilled with liquid. At this same time,air intake port58 in the wall ofcylinder47 is opened to allow air to entervolume43 by way of volume89 andchannel61.
• FIGS. 4[0062]cand4dserve to illustrate the function ofgate valve assembly73. In FIG. 4c, it can be observed that thegate valve assembly73 is actually a mechanism with three forward prongs and one backward-directed extension held in a position which blocksfluid channel81 by means ofpreload spring71. The central forward prong has a rectangular or square cross section in contrast to the circular cross sections of the other prongs and the backward-directed extension so as to seat over the top ofchannel81. Air pressure to displace thegate valve assembly73 and openfluid channel81 is applied only to the two outboard prongs ofassembly73 by way ofair channels75. Upon displacement ofgate valve assembly73, it occupies additional volume77.Air channel65 provides for release of air fromspring compartment69 upon progress of the backward-directed extension ofassembly73 intocompartment69.
• Plunger-Type Dispenser[0063]
• An alternative to squeeze dispensing makes use of a plunger. The way in which a plunger would be exploited in the present invention is shown in FIG. 5, a pictorial side view of such a device. In this embodiment, a[0064]fluid storage compartment91 of the same form factor as the previously described squeeze bladder is likewise mounted on the underside of the wrist. Afluid dispensing plunger93 is actuated by downward flexion of the hand at the wrist so as to depressplunger93 with the base of the palm. With this motion, hand treatment fluid is ejected onto the base of the palm and both hands can be rubbed together to disperse the treatment.
• The type of[0065]plunger device101 used on dish soap dispensers is shown in FIG. 6.
• A[0066]moveable plunger103 is spring loaded and captivated byhousing105. Thepreload spring121 is seated againstplunger103 withincylinder117.Tube127 extends into a fluid volume not shown. When theplunger103 is depressed, air involume119 is impeded in downward flow bygravity check valve125 havingcage123 and is promoted in upward flow throughchannel107 past spring loadedcheck valve113. Upon release ofplunger103, a partial vacuum is formed involume119 which pulls fluid up throughaperture129 oftube127 intovolume119 and onward up throughchannel107 and outaperture115. The tension ofspring109 is small, but sufficient to prevent unintended leakage of fluid. A miniature version of this plunger assembly can be fabricated for use as part of a plunger embodiment of the present invention.
• Pressure-Multiplying Plunger-Type Dispenser[0067]
• Analogous to the pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser is a pressure-multiplying version of the plunger device. A cross-sectional view of this device is shown in FIG. 7[0068]a. Amoveable plunger133 has a preload tension fromspring140 that maintains its normal extended position.Spring140 is seated against structural fins171 internal to the dispenser. Theplunger133 has acentral channel135 that accepts the introduction oftube149 connected by fins171 to the dispenser housing165, asplunger133 is depressed.Cutouts145 on the sides ofplunger133 admit the insertion of structural fins171 which holdtube149 in place. The lower portion ofplunger133 forms acylinder151 which houses a pressure-multiplyingcylinder159. Upon depression ofplunger133, thelower flange157 of the plunger applies pressure tofluid volume134 which in turn applies pressure tocylinder159. This results in the upward travel of pressure-multiplyingcylinder159 and the high pressure ejection of fluid alongchannel167 andchannel135,past check valve141 and out throughaperture137. As theplunger133 is depressed, the perforations ofair intake tube146 are sealed. Upon release of actuation pressure,plunger133 returns upward by virtue ofspring140 andcylinder159 returns downward under then influence ofspring155.Cylinder159 refills with fluid asaperture160 is in fluid communication withfluid volume134. Near the limit of return travel forplunger133, the perforations ofair intake tube146 are opened for air to refill volume168. Aflexible membrane158 at the base offluid container163 allows air pressure in volume168 to equilibrate with fluid pressure involume134. Retainingflange152 limits the downward travel ofcylinder159. In FIG. 7b, the three-dimensional shape ofplunger133 is more clearly manifested. Shown are thecutout areas145 which are penetrated by the structural fins171 which holdtube149 in fixed disposition with respect to the dispenser housing165.
• Other Dispenser Types[0069]
• Among other dispenser types are drip, pressurized, and pump-driven versions. Drip type dispensers are of limited practicality given that they are orientation sensitive. One way in which such a dispenser could be used involves actuating a shutoff valve. Various approaches well known in the prior art can be used to actuate the opening of such a valve by hand pressure. Subsequent to opening the valve, it is required to orient the dispenser to allow hand treatment to drip into the hand.[0070]
• Borrowing from the technology used in the fabrication of pressurized shaving cream dispensers, there are well known methods of producing gas-pressurized streams of liquids and gels. The dispenser exploiting gas pressurization could be a low profile metal, disposable cartridge that removably attaches to a wristband.[0071]
• Applicable miniature electromechanical schemes that could be used for ejecting hand treatment material are well known in the prior art. Foremost among electromechanical actuation methods is that of solenoid. The miniature solenoids used in ink jet printing can be applied to discharging small jets of fluid. Sufficient electrical energy for hundreds of actuations can be contained in small form factor batteries such as those of the disc lithium variety. Alternatively, miniature diaphragm pumps and piezoelectric pumps used for insulin delivery can be used for discharge of small jets of fluid. Finally, in the category of thermoelectric devices, Peltier effect devices can be used with working fluids or phase change materials to effect large pressure changes with modest electrically-induced temperature changes and thereby eject fluids upon initiation of current flow to the Peltier device. In all electrical methods, a consistent fixed dosage of ejected hand treatment material can be established by electronically fixing the duration of the governing voltage or current pulse. Remote control actuation is imminently feasible with commercially available low power consumption micro transmitters and receivers. There are numerous ways in which such remote control can be applied, typically using the free hand or other part of the body.[0072]
• Nozzle Configurations[0073]
• In the simplest embodiment, the nozzle of the present invention is of a fixed geometry. Other embodiments include retractable or extendible versions, as well as nozzles that can be adjusted in direction and those which allow selection of output flow type from streaming to spraying. Adjustable nozzles can be implemented for pressure multiplying dispensers with some increase in complexity over counterparts for non-pressure-multiplying dispensers.[0074]
• Typically, the nozzle of the present invention will be oriented so as to provide unobstructed dispensing of hand treatment to the hand in cases where the user is wearing a long-sleeved shirt or blouse, or a jacket. In situations where a garment might obstruct dispensing, it could be efficacious to have an extendible nozzle. An example of such a nozzle is shown in FIG. 8. A[0075]cylindrical nozzle body201 is shown withring embossments203. Acomplementary ring void205 is present in theneck207 of the dispenser so that longitudinal motion of thenozzle body201 relative to thedispenser neck207 establishes a fixed number of detint positions.
• As dictated by the preference of a user of the invention, the type of flow of dispensed material can be selected in an embodiment with flow control means. Numerous prior art examples of variable flow nozzles are extant in the patent literature; examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,843,030, 3,967,765, and 4,234,128. These nozzle designs exhibit variable flow channel geometry. An attending alteration in the flow from a streaming to spraying nature occurs upon rotation of one of the component members of the nozzle relative to the other. In FIG. 9, this type of nozzle is shown in the context of the present invention. A fixed[0076]nozzle component223 is attached to thedispenser body221. Rotation of the moveable nozzle component225 results in variation in the type of flow. In such an implementation, the flow channel is segmented into two portions and the alignment of a particular cross-sectional geometry of each of these portions of the channel is used to adjust the nature of the flow. Another method of varying the type of flow is that used in typical garden hose nozzles in which a flow output aperture is variably occluded by the longitudinal translation of a conical member with its apex directed into the flow output aperture by a screwing motion.
• While there have been shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention can be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically illustrated and described and that, within such embodiments certain changes in the detail and configuration of this invention, and in the form and arrangements of the components of this invention, can be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.[0077]

Claims (17)

1. A device for discharging hand treatment material from a user's forearm into said user's hand, the device comprising in combination:

(a) a dispenser containing said material;

(b) actuation means for dispensing said material; and

(c) attachment means for affixing said dispenser to the underside of said user's forearm.

said device attachable to said user's forearm in the proximity of the underside of said user's wrist and ejecting an amount of said hand treatment material to said user's hand when said actuation means is exercised by said user, said dispenser thereby providing the capability of convenient, but relatively covert application of said hand treatment material to said user's hand.

2. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser is a squeeze bottle and said actuation means comprises compressive deformation of said squeeze bottle.

3. A device as recited inclaim 2 wherein said dispenser contains an internal bladder for segregating an air volume internal to said dispenser from the volume of said hand treatment material, thereby allowing the use of said dispenser at arbitrary orientations with respect to gravity.

4. A device as recited inclaim 2 wherein said dispenser includes check valve means for preventing the leakage of said hand treatment material.

5. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser is a pressure-multiplying dispenser providing relatively high pressure ejection of said hand treatment material upon application of light compressive force to said dispenser.

6. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser is plunger-based dispenser.

7. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser is a drip dispenser including leak control means.

8. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser is a gas-pressurized dispenser.

9. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said actuation means includes an electric pump.

10. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said actuation means includes a piezoelectric pump.

11. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said actuation means includes a solenoid pump.

12. A device as recited inclaim 1 which includes means for adjusting the type of said ejection from streaming flow to spray.

13. A device as recited inclaim 1 which is disposable.

12. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser is removably attached to said attachment means.

14. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said dispenser includes adjustable nozzle means.

15. A device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said attachment means contains a working fluid volume in fluid communication with the interior of said dispenser so that said dispenser can be compressively-actuated by depression of said attachment means at a location on top of said user's wrist.

16. A method for discharging hand treatment material from a user's forearm into said user's hand, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) attaching a dispenser containing said hand treatment material to the underside of said user's forearm;

(b) actuating said dispenser to eject said hand treatment material into said user's hand.

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