Wearable disinfecting gel dispenser

• US 20060289567A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medonyx Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medonyx Inc.
• Inventors: Shoham, Gilad, Shoham, Shmuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/175
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients

Abstract

Provided is a wearable fluid dispenser including a reusable holster and a disposable cartridge containing fluid, wherein the cartridge is made of material having a flexibility higher than the flexibility of the holster, and wherein applying pressure to the cartridge allows dispensing onto the palm of the user'"'"'s hand by way of increased pressure within the bottle resulting in the silicone valve opening and gel dispensing downwards.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

a receptacle adapted to contain a fluid wherein said receptacle is removably attached to a clip for attaching said receptacle to the clothing of a person, said clip and receptacle are attached at one end through a hinge mechanism which allows the receptacle to be positioned in up-right and flipped down positions, and said clip and receptacle are attached at another end through a retention clip geometry, wherein said receptacle is connected to a pumping unit disposed within the receptacle, wherein the pumping unit enhances dispensing of said fluid form the receptacle through an outlet aperture in said dispenser when said receptacle is in said flipped down position and said retention clip geometry reduces or eliminates release of said fluid from the receptacle when said receptacle is in said upright position.

2. The fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein said dispenser comprises a redirect piping route to enhance dispensing of said fluid when said receptacle is in said flipped down position.

3. The fluid dispenser of claim 2, wherein said piping mechanism is disposed in a two piece bonded overcap.

4. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an overcap button attached to the pumping unit, wherein the overcap button comprises a redirecting nozzle and an orifice which provides said aperture for dispensing said fluid from said receptacle when said button is actuated and said receptacle is in said flipped down position.

5. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 wherein said clip is attached to said receptacle through a hinge allowing said receptacle to be positioned in said upright and flipped down positions and said clip further comprises a retaining region which allows said receptacle to be secured in said upright position.

6. The fluid dispenser of claim 5 wherein said clip comprises a serrated portion allowing location retention after said clip is positioned on the clothing of a person.

7. The fluid dispenser of claim 4, wherein said dispenser comprises a swivel body formed by said receptacle, said pumping unit and said overcap button, said swivel body being attached to said clip by a hinge piece integrally molded to said clip, whereby a user releases the swivel body from the upright position by pulling said swivel body away from said clip.

8. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 wherein said hinge piece and button are positioned to allow one-hand-action of said dispenser in rapid sequence through an unlocking of the dispensing function, a dispensing function, and a relocking of the dispensing function.

9. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 wherein said hinge mechanism and button are positioned to allow a locked state wherein dispensation of fluid is substantially impeded and an unlocked state wherein dispensation is facilitated, wherein a user can switch between the locked and unlocked states with a one-hand-action sequence within two seconds or less.

10. The fluid dispenser of claim 6, wherein said shoulder portion is positioned in said clip to prevent accidental discharge of fluid from said receptacle when said receptacle is in said upright position.

11. The fluid dispenser of claim 4, wherein said receptacle comprises a hollow plastic component with threads to secure said pumping unit, threads to guide said overcap button in its travel, and to provide an angle-stopping feature when said receptacle is mated to said clip.

19. The fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a bottom portion molded to provide a piece that snaps into a corresponding recess in the receptacle, thereby allowing the receptacle to be separated from the clip for refill and reattachment to the clip or replacement with a new filled bottle.

20. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a slit for fabric retention.

12. A method for dispensing an antiseptic gel or solution directly into the palm of a user comprising:

(a) providing a fluid dispenser comprising;

a receptacle adapted to contain a fluid wherein said receptacle is removably attached to a clip, wherein the clip is attached to a clothing of said user and the receptacle is positioned in an up-right position;

(b) releasing said receptacle from said clip at a top end of said receptacle while a bottom end of said receptacle remain attached to said clip through a hinge mechanism;

(c) bringing said receptacle to a flipped down position wherein said receptacle is at in a plane which is at an angle from the plane of said receptacle in said upright position;

(d) dispensing said gel or solution into the palm of said user; and

(e) bringing said receptacle to said upright position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (d) comprises dispensing said gel or solution through a button attached to the receptacle and connected to a pumping unit, wherein the pumping unit enhances dispensing of said fluid from the receptacle through an outlet aperture in said dispenser when said receptacle is in said flipped down position and said pumping unit reduces or eliminates release of said fluid from the receptacle when said receptacle is in said upright position

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (d) comprises redirecting said solution or fluid through a redirect piping route to enhance dispensing of said fluid when said receptacle is in said flipped down position.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein steps (b) to (e) are performed in two seconds or less.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein step(e) further comprises engaging a locking mechanism which locks said receptacle to said clip in said upright position.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said dispenser comprises a swivel body formed by said receptacle, a pumping unit and an overcap button, said swivel body being attached to said clip by a hinge integrally molded to said clip, wherein step (b) comprises releasing the swivel body from the upright position by pulling said swivel body away from said clip.

18. A method for dispensing an antiseptic gel or solution directly into the palm of a user from a fluid dispenser comprising:

providing a fluid dispenser having a receptacle, a dispensing mechanism and a locking/unlocking mechanism, wherein said dispensing is performed in a one-hand-action of said user comprising rapid sequence of unlocking the dispensing function, bringing said receptacle from an upright position to a flipped down position, dispensing said gel or solution directly into the palm of said user through a pumping mechanism comprising a redirect route;

bringing the receptacle to said upright position, and relocking of the dispensing function.

21. A fluid dispenser comprising an integrated clip and bottle comprising a molded flexible or collapsible portion which allows a user to dispense antiseptic agent by pressing on the flexible portion.

22. A wearable fluid dispenser comprising a reusable holster and a disposable cartridge for providing a fluid, wherein the cartridge is made of material having a flexibility higher than the flexibility of the holster, and wherein applying pressure to the cartridge allows dispensing said fluid onto the palm of the user'"'"'s hand by way of increased pressure within the bottle resulting in the silicone valve opening and fluid dispensing downwards.

23. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the cartridge comprises an integral nozzle facing downwards when the dispenser is in position for dispensing said fluid.

24. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the holster comprises ears molded in the body of said holster for locking said cartridge inside said holster.

25. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the holster comprises a frame geometry that allows attachment of the holster to a necklace that can be worn by the user.

26. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the holster comprises a cutout portion that can be closed with a pug, wherein the dispenser can be attached to a user'"'"'s clothing by positioning a piece of clothing between the cutout portion and the plug.

27. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the holster is a plastic holster having two buttons which when depressed simultaneously allow release of the cartridge for replacement while preventing accidental release of the cartridge when in use.

28. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the cartridge comprises a valve fitted into a neck of said cartridge.

29. The dispenser of claim 28, wherein said valve comprises a membrane disposed between two lead-in portions.

30. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein the lead-in portions have angled or radial portions and lip portions which allow the valve to be secured to the neck of the cartridge.

31. The dispenser of claim 30, wherein the valve comprises a U shaped portion which provides a buffer space separating the membrane portion from the lead-in portions thereby allowing a high tolerance elastomeric valve to snap into a low tolerance low precision cartridge neck.

32. The dispenser of claim 31 wherein the membrane comprises one or more slits which allow fluid in the cartridge to be dispensed through the valve when the cartridge is pressed.

38. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein said fluid is antiseptic agent.

39. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein said fluid is antiseptic agent containing alcohol.

40. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the fluid is antiseptic gel.

41. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the fluid is antiseptic gel containing 40% alcohol.

33. A valve for a cartridge wherein the valve is fitted into a neck of said cartridge without the need for a seal piece.

34. The valve of claim 33, wherein said valve comprises a membrane disposed between two lead-in portions.

35. The valve of claim 34, wherein the lead-in portions have angled or radial portions and lip portions which allow the valve to be secured to the neck of the cartridge.

36. The valve of claim 35, wherein the valve comprises a U shaped portion which provides a buffer space separating the membrane portion from the lead-in portions thereby allowing a high tolerance elastomeric valve to snap into a low tolerance low precision cartridge neck.

37. The valve of claim 36 wherein the membrane comprises one or more slits which allow fluid in the cartridge to be dispensed through the valve when the cartridge is pressed.

42. A wearable fluid dispenser comprising flexible and rigid regions, wherein the flexible region allows for dispensing fluid from the dispenser by applying pressure to the flexible region, and the rigid region prevents accidental dispensing of said fluid from the dispenser.