HAND SANITIZER DEVICE

Abstract

A device that applies liquid soap and/or hand sanitizer to a user's hand when the user manually actuates the flush mechanism of a toilet or urinal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of hand sanitizing, and more particularly to devices for automatically dispensing soap or hand sanitizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is recognized that hand cleanliness is important in preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

In addition to hand washing with soap (e.g. conventional liquid hand soap) and water, use of hand sanitizers has been promoted. Consumer alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and health care hand alcohol or alcohol hand antiseptic agents, are antiseptic products used to avoid transmission of pathogens. These exist in liquid, foam, and easy-flowing gel formulations. When hands are not visibly dirty, the many public health authorities recommend alcohol hand sanitizers as an acceptable alternative to soap and water for hand hygiene.

Various dispensers for soap and/or hand sanitizers have been developed, including as described in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,631—“Hand Sanitizing Station”; Rosa; 24 July, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 2,672,366 —“Method and Device for Charging Shower and Similar Devices with Soap Emulsion in Water”; Deport; Mar. 16, 1954; U.S. Pat. No. 7,441,283—“Flush toilet with add-on Liquid Dispenser”; Chu; 28 Oct., 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,788—“Method and Apparatus for Helping to Assure the Washing of Hands”; Lynn, et al.; 3 April, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,461—“Method and Apparatus for Helping to Assure the Washing of Hands”; Lynn; 29 Feb., 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,607—“Method and Apparatus for Helping to Assure the Washing of Hands”; Lynn; 14 Nov., 2000.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a device that applies liquid soap and/or hand sanitizer to a user's hand when the user manually actuates the flush mechanism of a toilet or urinal.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device for use with a toilet facility having a manual flush actuator, for applying liquid to a user's hand when the user manipulates the flush actuator, the device including: a reservoir for containing liquid; a dispenser for dispensing liquid responsive to a compressive force and in use located at a manual flush actuator; and a conduit connecting the reservoir and dispenser for permitting liquid to flow from the reservoir to the dispenser.

The dispenser may include: a housing having a port connected to the conduit for receiving liquid from the reservoir; a finger pad configured to permit liquid to pass therethrough, and movably attached to the housing so as to permit limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing, the finger pad and housing defining an internal volume, the size of which internal volume depending on the movement of the finger pad relative to the housing; and a liquid holder, being an absorbent material contained within the internal volume, wherein the liquid holder and housing define a liquid chamber in fluid communication with the port; whereby hand manipulation of the finger pad relative to the housing so as to reduce size of the internal volume compresses the liquid holder causing liquid to pass through the finger pad to the user's hand.

The absorbent material may be a sponge material. The sponge material may be polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge. The vertical dimension of the liquid chamber between the housing and a portion of the PVA sponge overlying the liquid chamber may be about ¼″ and the vertical dimension of the overlying portion of the PVA sponge may be about ⅛ ″.

The finger pad may be pivotally movably attached to the housing whereby the limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing is pivotal movement.

The liquid may be liquid hand soap. The liquid may be hand sanitizer.

The dispenser may be integral with the manual flush actuator.

The reservoir may be a substantially rigid vessel having a vent. The reservoir may be collapsible. The reservoir may be refillable. The toilet facility may include a tank for holding water for use in flushing and the reservoir may in use be located within the tank. The toilet facility may include a tank for holding water for use in flushing and having a tank lid, and the reservoir may be integral to the tank lid.

The device may be for use with a single-action top-mounted flush actuator, wherein the device may further include mount for movably supporting the dispenser relative to the flush actuator so as to permit limited linear movement of the dispenser relative to the flush actuator, and wherein the dispenser may include a member for engaging the flush actuator.

The device may be for use with a double-action top-mounted flush actuator having two side-by-side buttons by which the user may selectively actuate flushing with a larger or smaller volume of water, by depressing the appropriate button, wherein the finger pad may be pivotally movably attached to the housing wherein the pivot axis substantially bisects the finger pad whereby the limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing is a two-way see-saw movement; and the housing includes a double-button actuator, being a flexible impermeable membrane spanning the bottom of the housing; wherein, in use the dispenser is positioned above the flush actuator such that manually pivoting the finger pad one way relative to the housing causes the liquid holder to impart a depressive force to one of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator and manually pivoting the finger pad the other way relative to the housing causes the liquid holder to impart a depressive force to the other of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation showing a side-flush embodiment of the present invention, being an embodiment suitable for retrofitting on a conventional toilet with a side-mounted flush actuator, installed on such a toilet.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a side-flush dispenser embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan sectional view of the side-flush dispenser embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation sectional view of the side-flush dispenser embodiment shown in FIG. 2, at the A-A section indicated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation sectional view of the side-flush dispenser embodiment shown in FIG. 2, at the B-B section indicated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation sectional view of a single top-flush dispenser embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation schematic, partially transparent, representation of a double top-flush dispenser embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

A side-flush embodiment 20 of the present invention is shown installed on a side-flush toilet 30 with a side-mounted flush actuator 32, a tank 34 and a tank lid 36, in FIG. 1. The side-flush embodiment 20 includes a reservoir 40, a conduit 42 and a side-flush dispenser 44.

The reservoir 40 is suitable for containing liquid soap and/or hand sanitizer. The reservoir 40 is configured to permit liquid contained in the reservoir 40 to flow by gravity into the hose 42. To this end, the reservoir 40 may be vented to permit the ingress of air. Alternatively, the reservoir 40 may be a flexible container that collapses as it is emptied of liquid. The reservoir 40 may be refillable or may be a single-use container that is replaced once empty. As indicated in FIG. 1, the reservoir 40 may be installed atop the toilet tank lid or adjacent to same or at any other location suitable for providing a desired gravity flow of liquid. The reservoir 40 may be contained within the tank 34. The reservoir 40 may be may be integral to the tank lid 36.

The conduit 42 provides a flow passage between the reservoir 40 and the side-flush dispenser 44 for conveying liquid from the reservoir 40 to the side-flush dispenser 44. As indicated in FIG. 1, the conduit 42 may be a flexible tubing or hose. Alternatively, the conduit 42 may be rigid tubing, or purpose-built rigid or flexible or combinations of rigid and flexible components.

The side-flush dispenser 44 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 includes a side-flush housing 50, a side-flush finger pad 52 and a side-flush sponge 54.

The side-flush housing 50 includes a housing bottom 60 and housing side walls 62. The side-flush housing 50 includes a port 64 for receiving liquid from the conduit 42. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the port 64 is a nipple projecting outwardly from one of the housing side walls 62 and suitable for interconnection with a flexible hose. The side-flush housing 50 includes two hinge pins 66 projecting inwardly from two of the housing side walls 62 . The side-flush housing 50 includes means for facilitating the attachment of the side-flush housing 50 to a side-mounted flush actuator 32, for example, by way of adhesive or elastic or non-elastic straps (not shown in FIGS. 2-4).

The side-flush finger pad 52 includes two pin bores 70 for receiving the hinge pins 66 so as to pivotally interconnect the side-flush housing 50 and the side-flush finger pad 52. The side-flush finger pad 52 includes a plurality of slots 72 through which liquid may pass during use.

The side-flush housing 50 and side-flush finger pad 52 are preferably made from plastic, for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The side-flush sponge 54 is contained within the side-flush housing 50 and side-flush finger pad 52. The side-flush sponge 54 includes a concavity 80 that with the housing bottom 60 defines a liquid chamber 82 in fluid communication with the port 64, so as to receive liquid from the conduit 42. The side-flush sponge 54 is preferably a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge. A suitable sponge material is as used in the 3M Scotch-Brite stay fresh sponge (item # MMMH94).

In a preferred embodiment, the dimension of the liquid chamber 82 between the housing bottom 60 and the overlying portion of the side-flush sponge 54 is about ¼″ and the thickness of the overlying portion of the side-flush sponge 54 is about ⅛″.

In use, as indicated in FIG. 1, the side-flush dispenser 44 is mounted to a side-mounted flush actuator 32, and interconnected to the reservoir 40 via the conduit 42. Liquid in the reservoir 40 flows into the liquid chamber 82 and is absorbed by the side-flush sponge 54. Once the side-flush sponge 54 is sufficiently saturated, the wholly or partially saturated side-flush sponge 54 impedes further flow of liquid.

A user pushing downward on the side-flush finger pad 52 to actuate the side-mounted flush actuator 32 (so as to flush the side-flush toilet 30) incidentally pivots the side-flush finger pad 52 relative to the side-flush housing 50, thus compressing the side-flush sponge 54 and causing liquid to be expelled from the side-flush sponge 54 onto the user's hand via the slots 72. During the flushing action, the side-mounted flush actuator 32 and side-flush dispenser 44 are tilted downward which facilitates a flow of liquid into the liquid chamber 82 for replenishment of the side-flush sponge 54.

Thus, each time the side-flush toilet 30 is flushed, the side-flush dispenser 44 applies liquid (soap or hand sanitizer, as the installer prefers) to the user's hand.

The amount of liquid to be dispensed may be in part determined by the minimum internal diameter of the conduit 42. For example, with a conduit consisting 42 of a flexible hose, it has been found that with conventional readily-available liquid hand soaps, with a ⅜″ internal diameter hose, approximately 1 gram of soap is dispensed; and with a ¼″ internal diameter hose, approximately ¾ of a gram is dispensed.

Some toilets have top-mounted flush actuators, either single-action actuators, generally having a single button that is in used depressed to actuate flushing; or double-action actuators, generally having two side-by-side buttons by which the user may selectively actuate flushing with a larger or smaller volume of water, by depressing the appropriate button.

FIG. 6 shows a single top-flush dispenser 90 embodiment of the present invention for use with top-mounted single-action flush actuators (not shown). The single top-flush dispenser 90 includes a single top-flush mount 92, single top-flush housing 94, single top-flush finger pad 96, and single top-flush sponge 98.

The single top-flush housing 94 includes a port 64. The single top-flush housing 94 includes a single-button actuator 100. The single top-flush finger pad 96 is engaged with the single top-flush housing 94 so as to permit limited vertical movement of the single top-flush finger pad 96 relative to the single top-flush housing 94. The single top-flush sponge 98 is contained within the single top-flush finger pad 96 and the single top-flush housing 94. The single top-flush sponge 98 and single top-flush housing 94 define a liquid chamber 82 in fluid communication with the port 64.

The single top-flush housing 94, single top-flush finger pad 96 and single top-flush sponge 98 are supported by the single top-flush mount 92, in a manner that permits limited vertical movement of the single top-flush housing 94, single top-flush finger pad 96 and single top-flush sponge 98 relative to the single top-flush mount 92.

The single top-flush mount 92 includes a vertically extending mount opening 102 through which the port 64 projects and within which the port 64 moves during vertical movement of the single top-flush housing 94, single top-flush finger pad 96 and single top-flush sponge 98 relative to the single top-flush mount 92.

The single top-flush mount 92 has a mount base 104, that in use is positioned at a single-action actuator. The mount base 104 may be affixed in location by adhesive or conventional fasteners. Alternatively the mount base 104 may be held in location by friction, preferably augmented by a high-friction material at the mount base 104.

In use, the single top-flush dispenser 90 is located such that the single-button actuator 100 rests on or is adjacent and overlying the single button of a single-action actuators. A user pushing downward on the single top-flush finger pad 96 both causes the single top-flush housing 94, single top-flush finger pad 96 and single top-flush sponge 98 to move downward relative to the single top-flush mount 92, thus depressing the single button through contact with the single-button actuator 100; and incidentally depresses the single top-flush finger pad 96 relative to the single top-flush housing 94, thus compressing the single top-flush sponge 98 causing liquid to be expelled from the single top-flush sponge 98 onto the user's hand via slots 72.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic partially transparent representation of a double top-flush dispenser 110 embodiment of the present invention for use with a top-mounted double-action flush actuator (not shown). The double top-flush dispenser 110 includes a double top-flush housing 112, double top-flush finger pad 114 and double top-flush sponge 116.

The double top-flush housing 112 includes a port 64. The double top-flush housing 112 includes a double-button actuator 118, being a flexible impermeable membrane (for example, made from nitrile) spanning the bottom of the double top-flush housing 112.

The double top-flush finger pad 114 is engaged with the double top-flush housing 112 at a central pivot 120 so as to permit limited see-saw or tilting movement of the double top-flush finger pad 114 relative to the double top-flush housing 112.

The double top-flush sponge 116 is contained within the double top-flush finger pad 114 and the double top-flush housing 112. The double top-flush sponge 116 and double-button actuator 118 define a liquid chamber 82 in fluid communication with the port 64.

In use the double top-flush dispenser 110 is positioned above a top-mounted double-action flush actuator having two side-by-side buttons, such that manually tilting the double top-flush finger pad 114 one way relative to the double top-flush housing 112 causes the double top-flush sponge 116 to impart a depressive force to one of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator 118 and manually tilting the double top-flush finger pad 114 the other way relative to the double top-flush housing 112 causes the double top-flush sponge 116 to impart a depressive force to the other of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator 118. Manually tilting the double top-flush finger pad 114 either way relative to the double top-flush housing 112 compresses the double top-flush sponge 116 causing liquid to be expelled from the double top-flush sponge 116 onto the user's hand via slots 72.

Dispenser embodiments of the present invention may readily be configured so as to permit easy removal and replacement of the sponge. Further, an embodiment of the present invention could include a dispenser integrated with a flush actuator and a reservoir installed within a toilet tank or integral with a purpose-built toilet tank lid.

Claims

1. A device for use with a toilet facility having a manual flush actuator, for applying liquid to a user's hand when the user manipulates the flush actuator, the device comprising:

a reservoir for containing liquid;

a dispenser for dispensing liquid responsive to a compressive force and in use located at a manual flush actuator; and

a conduit connecting the reservoir and dispenser for permitting liquid to flow from the reservoir to the dispenser.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises:

a housing having a port connected to the conduit for receiving liquid from the reservoir;

a finger pad configured to permit liquid to pass therethrough, and movably attached to the housing so as to permit limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing, the finger pad and housing defining an internal volume, the size of which internal volume depending on the movement of the finger pad relative to the housing; and

a liquid holder, being an absorbent material contained within the internal volume, wherein the liquid holder and housing define a liquid chamber in fluid communication with the port;

whereby hand manipulation of the finger pad relative to the housing so as to reduce size of the internal volume compresses the liquid holder causing liquid to pass through the finger pad to the user's hand.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the absorbent material is a sponge material.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the sponge material is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the vertical dimension of the liquid chamber between the housing and a portion of the PVA sponge overlying the liquid chamber is about ¼″ and the vertical dimension of the overlying portion of the PVA sponge is about ⅛″.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the finger pad is pivotally movably attached to the housing whereby the limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing is pivotal movement.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid is liquid hand soap.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid is hand sanitizer.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is integral with the manual flush actuator.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a substantially rigid vessel having a vent.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is collapsible.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is refillable.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the toilet facility includes a tank for holding water for use in flushing and the reservoir is in use located within the tank.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the toilet facility includes a tank for holding water for use in flushing and having a tank lid, and the reservoir is integral to the tank lid.

15. The device of claim 2, for use with a single-action top-mounted flush actuator, wherein the device further comprises a mount for movably supporting the dispenser relative to the flush actuator so as to permit limited linear movement of the dispenser relative to the flush actuator, and wherein the dispenser includes a member for engaging the flush actuator.

16. The device of claim 2, for use with a double-action top-mounted flush actuator having two side-by-side buttons by which the user may selectively actuate flushing with a larger or smaller volume of water, by depressing the appropriate button, wherein:

the finger pad is pivotally movably attached to the housing wherein the pivot axis substantially bisects the finger pad whereby the limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing is a two-way see-saw movement; and

the housing includes a double-button actuator, being a flexible impermeable membrane spanning the bottom of the housing;

wherein, in use the dispenser is positioned above the flush actuator such that manually pivoting the finger pad one way relative to the housing causes the liquid holder to impart a depressive force to one of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator and manually pivoting the finger pad the other way relative to the housing causes the liquid holder to impart a depressive force to the other of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator.