Fluid dispensers for personal use
Personal dispensers include collapsible containers that are associated with pump mechanisms for dispensing fluid from within the collapsible containers. The pump mechanisms are preferable selectively operable to dispense a unit dose of fluid. The collapsible containers are sealed such that they lose volume as fluid is dispensed. Clips and housing members for holding and wearing the personal dispensers are also provided.
The present invention generally relates to fluid dispensers, and, more particularly, relates to personal, portable fluid dispensers. In specific preferred embodiments, this invention relates to portable, personal fluid dispensers that are operable to dispense a unit dose of a cleaning or sanitizing solution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPortable containers for dispensing cleaning or sanitizing solutions are generally known, and include semi-rigid containers that can be selectively opened or closed so that the solution retained in the container may be dispensed. These containers are herein termed “semi-rigid” because, although being formed of rigid materials, they give to pressure in order to allow their interior volume to be temporarily decreased in order to dispense some of the solution retained therein. These types of containers are very popular for carrying around hand sanitizer, hand cleaner, and hand lotion.
Hand sanitizers, hand cleaners, and hand lotions are also dispensed through the use of positive displacement pumps and wall-mounted dispensers, as generally known. Generally, these devices are not readily portable. But they do provide the beneficial feature of providing a user with a unit dose of the hand treatment solution upon activation of their dispensing mechanics. Currently, known portable dispensers do not provide a dosing function, and, thus, there exists a need in the art for a portable, personal dispenser that includes a mechanism for dispensing a unit dose of the solution contained therein.
Known portable, personal dispensers, as already mentioned, are generally made of semi-rigid materials. Inasmuch as more flexible materials might provide a less cumbersome personal dispenser, there exists a need in the art for a personal collapsible dispenser device.
Diaphragm-type pumps are known and generally employed in wall-mounted dispensers because they provide a unit dose of a cleaning solution when manipulated to dispense that solution. Various types of diaphragm (or dome) pumps are known, and a large number of them include a first one-way valve allowing solution to enter the diaphragm, upon the expansion thereof, and, a second one-way valve allowing solution to exit the diaphragm upon the compression thereof. These pumps are generally produced through multi-step processes, and are designed specifically for the wall-mounted dispenser environment. Thus, there exists a need in the art for an improved process for producing diaphragm-type pumps, and a need for modified diaphragm-type pump designs useful in portable, personal dispensers according to this invention.
In the hand cleansing/sanitizing arts, there is a growing interest in devices and methods for monitoring hand cleansing/sanitizing. Thus, there exists a need in the art for improved devices and methods for such monitoring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, this invention provides a personal dispenser including a collapsible container and a pump mechanism. The collapsible container has an internal volume defined by flexible walls, and holds a fluid for dispensing. The pump mechanism is partially retained within the internal volume, and it is user-operated by manipulation through the flexible walls. The pump mechanism includes a dispensing nozzle that extends externally of the collapsible container, such that operating the pump mechanism dispenses at least some of the fluid from within the internal volume through the dispensing nozzle. The fluid dispensed may be virtually any desired fluid, and it is envisioned that hand-treatment fluids such as soaps, foamed soaps, sanitizers and lotions will be particularly desired.
In another embodiment, this invention provides a personal dispenser including a collapsible container and a pump mechanism, which includes a collapsible dosing chamber that defines a dose volume. The collapsible container has an internal volume defined by flexible walls, and holds a fluid for dispensing. The pump mechanism communicates between the internal volume and an opening provided for dispensing fluid. An inlet communicates between the internal volume of the collapsible container and the dose volume, and an outlet communicates between the dose volume and the opening for dispensing fluid. Operating the pump mechanism by direct hand manipulation of the collapsible dosing chamber results in the dispensing of at least some of the fluid from within the dose volume through the dispensing nozzle. The personal dispenser of this embodiment is preferably carried by an individual for personal use, and, in preferred embodiments, includes means for attaching the personal dispenser to an individual.
In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a personal dispenser including a collapsible container having flexible walls defining an internal volume holding a fluid for dispensing; a dispensing nozzle having an opening for dispensing fluid and an outlet communicating between the internal volume of the collapsible container and the opening for dispensing fluid; and a one-way valve in the outlet that permits dispensing of the fluid at the opening and prohibits air from entering the collapsible container through the outlet, wherein the one-way valve responds to an increase in pressure in the outlet to permit dispensing of the fluid. The increase in pressure at the outlet is achieved by squeezing the collapsible container. Although not limited thereto, this embodiment preferably includes a housing member having a dispensing nozzle aperture and a push plate. The housing member selectively receives the collapsible container such that the push plate overlies the collapsible container and the dispensing nozzle extends outwardly of the housing member through the dispensing nozzle aperture. Pressing on the push plate presses on the collapsible container and increases the pressure against the collapsible container to cause dispensing of the fluid through the one-way valve.
With the personal dispensers of this invention, a method for monitoring the maintenance of a sanitized work environment is also provided. This method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of personal disposable personal dispensers to workers at said work environment, wherein said personal dispensers hold a plurality of unit doses of hand sanitizing fluid; monitoring, on a consistent periodic basis, the number of empty personal dispensers exchanged for new personal dispensers; determining, after a plurality of said monitoring steps, an average number of exchanges that correlates with a sanitized work environment; and after said step of determining an average number of exchanges that correlates with a sanitized work environment, comparing the number of empty personal dispensers exchanged in subsequent said steps of monitoring with the average number of exchanges.
This invention also provides a method for creating a pump mechanism having an inlet and outlet path communicating with a dosing chamber, wherein both the inlet and outlet paths include one-way valves, the method comprising the steps of molding a first half of a body portion from rigid material, the first half of the body portion providing a first half of an inlet path, a first half of an outlet path, and a dosing chamber aperture; molding a second half of a body portion from rigid material, the second half of the body portion providing a second half of an inlet path, a second half of an outlet path, and a dosing chamber aperture; over molding a flexible material on the first half of the body portion to provide a first half of a duct bill valve in the inlet path, a first half of a duct bill valve in the outlet path, and a first half of a dosing chamber extending through the dosing chamber aperture; over molding a flexible material on the second half of the body portion to provide a second half of a duct bill valve in the inlet path, a second half of a duct bill valve in the outlet path, and a second half of a dosing chamber extending through the dosing chamber aperture; and joining the first and second halves of the body portion such that said first and second halves of the inlet path create a complete inlet path with a duct bill valve therein, said first and second halves of the outlet path create a complete outlet path with a duct bill valve therein, and said first and second halves of a dosing chamber create a complete dosing chamber.
A method for creating a pump mechanism having an inlet and outlet path communicating with a dosing chamber, wherein both the inlet and outlet paths include one-way valves, the method comprising the steps of providing a mold having an inside dimension configuration that provides a domed dosing chamber shape, an inside-out duck bill valve shape extending from the domed dosing chamber shape at an open end of the duck bill valve shape and extending to a closed end of the duck bill valve shape, and an outlet conduit shape extending from the domed dosing chamber shape at an open end of the outlet conduit shape and extending to an open fill end of the outlet conduit shape; placing a tube of plastic material in the mold; blowing air through the open fill end of the outlet conduit shape of the mold to force the tube of plastic material to contact the inside dimensions of the mold, and thereby forming a pump mechanism having a dosing chamber from which a sealed inside-out duck bill valve extends and from which an outlet conduit extends; removing the pump mechanism from the mold; and pushing the inside-out duck bill valve inside of the dosing chamber to create an inlet conduit closed by a duck bill valve.
This invention also provides a clip device comprising a first clamp member having a first grip portion and a catch; a second clamp member having a second grip portion and a latch, said second clamp member being joined to said first clamp member at a hinge such that said first and second grip portions are opposed to one another and said latch is opposed to said catch, wherein said first and second grip portions move about said hinge to make contact with one another and said latch engages said catch when said first and second grip portions make contact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to
Dosing chamber 34 may be manipulated through flexible walls 14, 16 in order to dispense fluid F through opening 40, when on/off cap 38 is positioned to allow for the dispensing of fluid F. An individual can access and physically manipulate pump mechanism 30, particularly at dosing chamber 34, to dispense fluid as desired. And in this particular embodiment, dosing chamber 34 defines a dose volume, such that the squeezing of dosing chamber 34 dispenses a unit dose of fluid. This will be seen more fully below when the particular pump mechanism of this embodiment (pump mechanism 30) is disclosed in more detail. Notably, collapsible container 12 is sealed at all edges such that, each time fluid is dispensed, internal volume 26 is reduced by the volume of the unit dose, i.e., substantially by the volume of dosing chamber 34, although it will be appreciated that the squeezing of dosing chamber 34 may fail to expel the entire volume of dosing chamber 34. Because collapsible container 12 is sealed and collapses when fluid is dispensed, the personal dispenser 10 (and other embodiments disclosed herein) has the added benefit of being capable of dispensing fluid in virtually any orientation (which may be distinguished from prior art dispensers that must be oriented in a particular way, typically against gravity, to dispense properly). After a substantial number of unit doses have been dispensed, collapsible container 12 will be fully collapsed and substantially empty of fluid F, at which time it may be thrown away.
The fluid dispensed may be virtually any desired fluid, and it is envisioned that hand-treatment fluids such as soaps, foamed soaps, sanitizers and lotions will be particularly desired.
In
Referring now to
An alternative embodiment of a clip device is shown in
Referring now to
Dosing pump mechanisms and the provision of one-way valves therein are generally known. Popular one-way valves in dosing pump mechanisms of the type disclosed and employed herein include floating ball check valves, wherein balls are biased to open or close an inlet or outlet passage and respond to pressure applied to the dosing chamber to allow for proper transmission of fluid from outside the dosing chamber, into the chamber, and from there, out the outlet. In other pump mechanisms, one or more flexible, typically elastomer, flaps extend from the dosing chamber to block inlet and/or outlet passages, with the manipulation of the dosing chamber serving to affect or remove such blockage to allow for the proper transmission of the fluid for dispensing. It will be appreciated that these and other pump mechanisms may be employed in accordance with the teachings herein.
Referring now to
After creating such a body portion 100, an over mold portion 116 is molded in a second shot using a highly flexible material, such as an elastomer. As can be seen in
With two such body portions 100, each containing an over mold portion 116, as shown in
Although this invention is not to be limited to any particular type of pump mechanism, the pump mechanism just disclosed, as well as the pump mechanism that will now be disclosed with reference to
In a method for forming the pump mechanism 200, a blow molding technique is employed. A mold is provided having inside dimensions that provide the shape of pump mechanism 200 from an open end at end 218 of outlet 204 to a closed end 220 at inside-out duck-bill valve 216. A tube of plastic material is placed in the mold, as generally known, and air is blown therein through opening 218 to force the plastic to contact the inside diameter of the mold. After the plastic material has cooled a degree sufficient for removing it from the mold, it is removed, and the closed end 220 of valve 216 is cut so as to provide an opening, as indicated at the numeral 222 in
In
In
An alternative “automatic” on/off cap concept is shown in
In each embodiment including a dosing chamber pump mechanism, the pump mechanism has been shown as being carried inside the collapsible container. It will be appreciated that this invention is not limited thereto.
It is envisioned that any of the personal dispensers disclosed herein may be used in a method for monitoring the maintenance of a sanitized work environment. In accordance with such a method, a plurality of disposable personal dispensers would be provided to workers at a work environment. Each worker would be provided with a disposable personal dispenser that holds a plurality of unit doses of hand sanitizing fluid, and each worker would be expected to periodically sanitize their hands by dispensing one or more unit doses to their hands as generally disclosed above. When a worker's disposable personal dispenser is empty, he/she would be expected to exchange the empty personal dispenser for a new personal dispenser. The rate at which workers are exchanging empty personal dispensers for new personal dispensers would be monitored, and, after a short period of time, it would be possible to determine an average number of exchanges that correlates with a sanitized work environment. For example, over the course of a few weeks or months, it might be determined that, if the workers are properly keeping their hands sanitized, there would be an average of about 100 empty personal dispensers exchanged for new personal dispensers. This average number of exchanges that correlates with a sanitized work environment would have to be determined for a given work environment, but, once determined, could be compared with the number of exchanges made in subsequent time periods, in order to determine if a sanitized work environment is being maintained. In the example already given, a subsequent determination that only 75 exchanges occurred in a given month would indicate that the work environment has not remained as sanitized as might be desired inasmuch as workers are not sanitizing their hands as often as they once were. This method provides a qualitative means for assessing sanitation of a work environment.
In light of the foregoing, it should thus be evident that the process of the present invention, providing personal dispensers, substantially improves the art. While, in accordance with the patent statutes, only the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, the present invention is not to be limited thereto or thereby. Rather, the scope of the invention shall include all modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the attached claims.
Claims
1. A personal dispenser comprising:
- a collapsible container having flexible walls defining an internal volume holding a fluid for dispensing; and
- a pump mechanism user operated by manipulation through said flexible walls, and including a dispensing nozzle extending external of said collapsible container, such that operating said pump mechanism dispenses at least some of said fluid from within said internal volume through said dispensing nozzle.
2. A personal dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said pump mechanism, when operated by manipulation through said flexible walls, dispenses, at said dispensing nozzle, a unit dose of fluid.
3. A personal dispenser as in claim 2, wherein said pump mechanism includes a collapsible dosing chamber residing within said internal volume that is manipulated through said flexible walls to dispense said unit dose of fluid, said collapsible dosing chamber defining a dose volume.
4. A personal dispenser as in claim 3, wherein said pump mechanism includes:
- an inlet communicating between said internal volume of said collapsible container and said dose volume;
- an outlet communicating between said dose volume and an opening for dispensing fluid, said outlet extending through said dispensing nozzle;
- an inlet valve in said inlet that permits said fluid to enter said dose volume upon expansion of said collapsible dosing chamber from a collapsed state; and
- an outlet valve in said outlet that permits dispensing of said fluid upon collapsing said collapsible dosing chamber from an expanded state.
5. The personal dispenser of claim 2, wherein said collapsible container is sealed such that dispensing said unit dose causes said interior volume of said collapsible container to decrease substantially by said unit dose.
6. The personal dispenser of claim 3, wherein said inlet valve is a duckbill valve that opens to fluid flow in the direction into said dose volume and closes to fluid flow in the direction opposite thereto.
7. The personal dispenser of claim 6, wherein said outlet valve is a duckbill valve that opens to fluid flow from within said dose volume toward said dispensing nozzle, and closes to fluid flow in the direction opposite thereto.
8. The personal dispenser of claim 7, wherein said collapsible dosing chamber and said inlet and outlet thereof are a unitary blow-molded pump mechanism.
9. The personal dispenser of claim 7, wherein said pump mechanism is formed of two substantially identical half sections mating to form said pump mechanism through male and female mating members.
10. The personal dispenser of claim 9, wherein said half sections each comprise:
- a body portion providing an inlet trough providing half of said inlet, an outlet trough providing half of said outlet, and an aperture between said inlet trough and outlet trough; and
- an over mold portion of a flexible material providing half said duckbill valve in said outlet, half of said duckbill valve in said inlet, and half of said dosing chamber extending through said aperture.
11. The personal dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a fastener so that the user may carry the personal dispenser on his/her person.
12. The personal dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a housing member that selectively receives said collapsible container with at least a portion of said dispensing nozzle extending exteriorly thereof, said housing member having a push plate extending over at least a portion of said collapsible container such that pushing on said push plate pushes on said collapsible container to dispense fluid.
13. A personal dispenser comprising:
- a collapsible container having flexible walls defining an internal volume holding a fluid for dispensing;
- a pump mechanism communicating between said internal volume and an opening for dispensing fluid, said pump mechanism including a collapsible dosing chamber defining a dose volume, an inlet communicating between said internal volume of said collapsible container and said dose volume, and an outlet communicating between said dose volume and said opening for dispensing fluid, such that operating said pump mechanism dispenses at least some of said fluid from within said dose volume through said dispensing nozzle, wherein said pump mechanism is manipulated to dispense said fluid by direct manipulation of said collapsible dosing chamber by a hand of the user.
14. A personal dispenser comprising:
- a collapsible container having flexible walls defining an internal volume holding a fluid for dispensing;
- a dispensing nozzle having an opening for dispensing fluid, and an outlet communicating between said internal volume of said collapsible container and said opening for dispensing fluid;
- a one-way valve in said outlet that permits dispensing of said fluid at said opening and prohibits air from entering said collapsible container through said outlet, said one-way valve responding to an increase in pressure in said outlet to permit dispensing of said fluid.
15. The personal dispenser of claim 14, further comprising:
- a housing member having a dispensing nozzle aperture and a push plate, said housing member selectively receiving said collapsible container such that said push plate overlies said collapsible container and said dispensing nozzle extends outwardly of said housing member through said dispensing nozzle aperture, wherein pressing on said push plate presses on said collapsible container and increases the pressure against said collapsible container to permit dispensing of said fluid.
16. The personal dispenser of claim 15, wherein said housing member further includes an identification badge holder.
17. A method for monitoring the maintenance of a sanitized work environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of personal disposable personal dispensers to workers at said work environment, wherein said personal dispensers hold a plurality of unit doses of hand sanitizing fluid;
- monitoring, on a consistent periodic basis, the number of empty personal dispensers exchanged for new personal dispensers;
- determining, after a plurality of said monitoring steps, an average number of exchanges that correlates with a sanitized work environment; and
- after said step of determining an average number of exchanges that correlates with a sanitized work environment, comparing the number of empty personal dispensers exchanged in subsequent said steps of monitoring with the average number of exchanges.
18. A method for creating a pump mechanism having an inlet path and an outlet path communicating with a dosing chamber, wherein both the inlet and outlet paths include one-way valves, the method comprising the steps of:
- molding a first half of a body portion from rigid material, the first half of the body portion providing a first half of an inlet path, a first half of an outlet path, and a dosing chamber aperture;
- molding a second half of a body portion from rigid material, the second half of the body portion providing a second half of an inlet path, a second half of an outlet path, and a dosing chamber aperture;
- over molding a flexible material on the first half of the body portion to provide a first half of a duct bill valve in the inlet path, a first half of a duct bill valve in the outlet path, and a first half of a dosing chamber extending through the dosing chamber aperture;
- over molding a flexible material on the second half of the body portion to provide a second half of a duct bill valve in the inlet path, a second half of a duct bill valve in the outlet path, and a second half of a dosing chamber extending through the dosing chamber aperture; and
- joining the first and second halves of the body portion such that said first and second halves of the inlet path create a complete inlet path with a duct bill valve therein, said first and second halves of the outlet path create a complete outlet path with a duct bill valve therein, and said first and second halves of a dosing chamber create a complete dosing chamber.
19. A method for creating a pump mechanism having an inlet path and an outlet path communicating with a dosing chamber, wherein both the inlet and outlet paths include one-way valves, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold having an inside dimension configuration that provides a domed dosing chamber shape, an inside-out duck bill valve shape extending from the domed dosing chamber shape at an open end of the duck bill valve shape and extending to a closed end of the duck bill valve shape, and an outlet conduit shape extending from the domed dosing chamber shape at an open end of the outlet conduit shape and extending to an open fill end of the outlet conduit shape;
- placing a tube of plastic material in the mold;
- blowing air through the open fill end of the outlet conduit shape of the mold to force the tube of plastic material to contact the inside dimensions of the mold, and thereby forming a pump mechanism having a dosing chamber from which a sealed inside-out duck bill valve extends and from which an outlet conduit extends;
- removing the pump mechanism from the mold; and
- pushing the inside-out duck bill valve inside of the dosing chamber to create an inlet conduit closed by a duck bill valve.
20. A clip device comprising:
- a first clamp member having a first grip portion and a catch;
- a second clamp member having a second grip portion and a latch, said second clamp member being joined to said first clamp member at a hinge such that said first and second grip portions are opposed to one another and said latch is opposed to said catch, wherein said first and second grip portions move about said hinge to make contact with one another and said latch engages said catch when said first and second grip portions make contact.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 24, 2006
Inventors: Joseph Kanfer (Richfield, OH), Richard Sayers (Akron, OH), Nelson Simkins (Rittman, OH)
Application Number: 11/066,640
International Classification: B65D 37/00 (20060101);