DISPENSER FOR DISINFECTANT WIPES
A dispenser includes a container for storing the disinfectant wipes, a fastener operatively connected to the container and adapted to removably connect the container, and a manual input on the container for advancing one of the disinfectant wipes. The container may provide an open position for dispensing the disinfectant wipes and a closed position for preserving fluid on the disinfectant wipes. The disinfectant wipes are preferably placed in a roll. The fastener preferably snaps or clips to the stethoscope, belt, or other convenient location.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/091,109 filed Mar. 28, 2005, entitled DISPENSER FOR DISINFECTANT WIPES which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to disinfection, particular, but not necessarily as it applies to stethoscopes. In health care, proper disinfection and sterilization is of great importance. Disinfection is, of course, the process of killing pathogens. Disinfection is often performed using alcohol swabs, but such use of alcohol swabs is not always convenient. While this does not normally prevent disinfection or sterilization from taking place, it can make disinfection or sterilization inconvenient.
During the course of examination with a patient, medical instruments such as stethoscopes come in contact with the patient. Disinfection of stethoscopes after each use, is not, however, an established practice. Yet, failing to do so may result in failure to kill pathogens. What is needed is a convenient, easy, and effective manner of disinfecting stethoscopes as well as other surfaces.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art.
It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a convenient means for health care personnel to disinfect a surface.
Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to encourage and promote disinfecting and sterilizing by health care personnel.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a disinfectant wipe dispenser for use with a stethoscope.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a disinfectant wipe dispenser for use with a stethoscope that does not interfere with auscultation and examination of a patient.
Another object, feature, or advantage is to provide a disinfectant wipe dispenser which can be attached a stethoscope or belt or otherwise in a convenient manner.
A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a disinfectant wipe dispenser that is disposable and environmentally safe.
Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a disinfectant wipe dispenser that allows for easy dispensement of disinfectant wipes at the discretion of health care personnel.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide an article of manufacture which is useful and of value to health care personnel and can be used as a promotional item by pharmaceutical companies or others.
One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow.
According to one aspect of the invention, a stethoscope dispenser for dispensing disinfectant wipes is provided. The stethoscope dispenser includes a container for storing the disinfectant wipes, a fastener operatively connected to the container and adapted to removably connect the container to a tube of a stethoscope, and a manual input on the container for initiating dispensement of the disinfectant wipes. The container may provide an open position for dispensing the disinfectant wipes and a closed position for preserving fluid on the disinfectant wipes. The disinfectant wipes are preferably tearable. A motor may be disposed within the container and operatively connected to the manual input such that operation of the manual input advances at least one of the disinfectant wipes. Alternatively, a purely mechanical design can be used. The fastener snaps or clips to the stethoscope.
According to another aspect of the invention a stethoscope dispenser is provided. The stethoscope dispenser includes a plurality of disinfectant wipes, a container for storing the disinfectant wipes, the disinfectant wipes disposed within the container, and a fastener operatively connected to the container and adapted to removably connect the container to stethoscope. It is preferred that the disinfectant wipes are odorless and are substantially square in shape. It is further preferred that each of the disinfectant wipes is impregnated with a pre-applied disinfectant. It is further preferred that the container holds at least 17 wipes. The manual input on the container initiates dispensement of at least one of the disinfectant wipes. The fastener snaps or clips to the stethoscope. The fastener preferably connects to a tube of the stethoscope.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of disinfecting is provided. The method includes accessing a stethoscope dispenser operatively connected to a stethoscope, the stethoscope dispenser having a plurality of disinfectant wipes, a container for storing the disinfectant wipes, the disinfectant wipes disposed within the container, and a fastener operatively connected to the container and adapted to removably connect the container to stethoscope. The method includes dispensing at least one disinfectant wipe from the stethoscope dispenser and disinfecting a surface with the at least one disinfectant wipe dispensed from the stethoscope dispenser. The surface being disinfected can be a skin surface of a patient prior to needle injection and/or any procedure causing trauma/penetration of patients skin requiring appropriate sterilization, a health care provider's hands, a surface of a bell of the stethoscope, a surface of a diaphragm of the stethoscope, a surface of an earpiece of the stethoscope or some other surface. According to another aspect of the present invention, a dispenser for dispensing disinfectant wipes is provided. The dispenser includes a container for storing the disinfectant wipes, a fastener operatively connected to the container and adapted to removably connect the container (such as to a stethoscope or belt), and a manual input on the container for advancing one of the disinfectant wipes. The manual input may include a knob for advancing disinfectant wipes from a roll of disinfectant wipes. The fastener may include a strap to form a loop and may also use one or more snaps to do so.
According to yet another embodiment, a dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing having an open position and a closed position, a cartridge disposed within the dispenser housing, the cartridge accessible when the dispenser housing is in the open position and the cartridge protected by the dispenser housing when the dispenser housing is in the closed position, a plurality of disinfectant wipes positioned within the cartridge, the cartridge having an opening for dispensement of the disinfectant wipes.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser includes a dispenser housing, a cover operatively connected to the dispenser housing to thereby provide an open position and a closed position. There is a roll of pre-moisturized disinfectant wipes disposed within the dispenser housing such that the disinfectant wipes are accessible in the open position for dispensement and the disinfectant wipes are protected within the dispenser housing when the dispenser housing is in the closed position. There is a manual feed control adapted for advancing one of the disinfectant wipes. A fastener is operatively connected to the dispenser housing for securing the dispenser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention includes various embodiments of stethoscope dispenser for dispensing disinfectant wipes and related methods. Although preferred embodiments are described herein, the present invention is by no means limited to these specific embodiments.
The present invention also provides for a method of disinfecting. In operation, the dispenser provides a health care provider a convenient method of disinfecting a surface. Placing the dispenser on a stethoscope makes the dispenser easily accessible to health care personnel to encourage and promote proper and frequent disinfecting of various surfaces. Whenever needed, at the discretion of health care personnel, a disinfectant wipe is dispensed. The wipe can be used to sterilize the bell, diaphragm, and/or ear piece of the stethoscope. The wipe may also be used to wipe the hands of a health care provider or sterilize a patient's skin prior to needle injection. Of course, the wipe can be used to disinfect or sterilize other surfaces at the discretion of the health care provider.
The present invention contemplates numerous embodiments. Another embodiment is shown in
The swabs or wipes are refillable so that the dispenser may be reused.
Therefore a stethoscope dispenser for disinfectant wipes and method of using it has been disclosed. The present invention contemplates numerous variations. For example, the present invention contemplates variations in the size, shape, quantity, and composition of disinfectant wipes as well as whether they are tearable or not. The present invention contemplates variations in the type of fastener used to connect the container to a stethoscope or belt or other convenient and accessible location. The present invention contemplates variations in the dispensement mechanism, including numerous mechanical and electrical systems. These include manual activation, such as advancing the feed through use of a knob or automatic advancement. These and other variations are all within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A dispenser for dispensing disinfectant wipes, comprising:
- a container for storing the disinfectant wipes;
- a fastener operatively connected to the container and adapted to removably connect the container;
- a manual input on the container for advancing one of the disinfectant wipes.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the manual input comprises a knob for advancing disinfectant wipes from a roll of disinfectant wipes.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a strap to form a loop.
4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the fastener further comprises a plurality of snaps.
5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the container provides an open position for dispensing the disinfectant wipes and a closed position for preserving moisture on the disinfectant wipes.
6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a snap.
7. A dispenser, comprising:
- a dispenser housing having an open position and a closed position;
- a cartridge disposed within the dispenser housing, the cartridge accessible when the dispenser housing is in the open position and the cartridge protected by the dispenser housing when the dispenser housing is in the closed position;
- a plurality of disinfectant wipes positioned within the cartridge;
- the cartridge having an opening for dispensement of the disinfectant wipes.
8. The dispenser of claim 7 further comprising a strap operatively connected to the dispenser housing and at least one fastener operatively connected to the strap for forming a loop.
9. The dispenser of claim 8 further comprising a manual feed mechanism associated with the cartridge to thereby advance one of the disinfectant wipes.
10. A dispenser, comprising:
- a dispenser housing;
- a cover operatively connected to the dispenser housing to thereby provide an open position and a closed position;
- a roll of pre-moisturized disinfectant wipes disposed within the dispenser housing such that the disinfectant wipes being accessible in the open position for dispensement and the disinfectant wipes being protected within the dispenser housing when the dispenser housing is in the closed position;
- a manual feed control adapted for advancing one of the disinfectant wipes; and
- a fastener operatively connected to the dispenser housing for securing the dispenser.
11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the fastener comprises a strap.
12. The dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a cartridge, the roll of pre-moisturized disinfectant wipes disposed within the cartridge, the cartridge having an opening for dispensing the disinfectant wipes upon advancement of the roll using the manual feed control.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 12, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2006
Inventor: AMAL AGARWAL (Orland Park, IL)
Application Number: 11/423,483
International Classification: B65H 3/00 (20060101);