Automatic emergency spray means

• US 5,265,288 A
• Filed: 08/14/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allison, Gary
• Original Assignee: Allison, Gary
• Inventors: Allison, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US07/929,429
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 4/620, 4/621, 4/622, 4/623
• US Class Current: 4/620
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/02 for the eyes

Abstract

Emergency eyewash spray device designed to eject an upward spray to engage the eyes to an affected individual in response to an electronic sensing device which is positioned to be activated at a distance ahead of the device in order to automatically open an electrically controlled valve to cause water to flow through said spray means prior to the entry of an affected body within the sensing zone in order to accelerate emergency action. Provision is made for simultaneous activation of an alarm signal. The sensing device is positioned and designed to provide activation of the valve at a sufficient distance ahead of the spray means to ensure the availability of the spray to an affected individual who may be rushing to the device.

Claims

1. An emergency eyewash device adapted to automatically direct an upward spray of water upon remote activation thereof by sensing the presence of a user at a distance in advance thereof sufficient to ensure projection of said spray sufficiently in advance of contact therewith by an affected individual which comprises a spray means comprised of a spaced pair of nozzles positioned over a bowl which serves as a receptacle for water distributed by said nozzles, said nozzles being positioned and designed to project said spray upward to permit engagement thereof with the eyes of a user, a supply conduit for said water, an electrically controlled valve associated with said supply conduit to control water flow therethrough, and electronic sensing means operatively connected to said electrically control valve, said sensing means being positioned at the front of said bowl and designed to create a sensing zone sufficiently in front of said bowl to permit opening of said electrically controlled valve and generation of said spray upon entry of a body into said sensing zone and prior to contact of said body with said spray, said sensing zone extending over a radius of an area having approximately five or more feet from said sensing means, thereby assuring automatic advance operation of said spray within the time period required for the user to travel from entry into said sensing zone to reach said spray.

2. An emergency eyewash device according to claim 1, wherein an alarm signal is provided as an automatic alert, such signal being activated through said sensing means simultaneously with activation of said spray means to provide emergency notification.

3. An emergency eyewash device according to claim 1, wherein elevated spray means is positioned above and adjacent to said eyewash device for the downward projection of a spray in the form of a shower, said spray means being activated by opening of an electrically controlled flow valve responsive to said sensing means.

4. An emergency eyewash device according to claim 1, wherein said water supply conduit means comprises a bypass conduct having a manually controlled valve to permit optional manual control.

5. An emergency eyewash device according to claim 1 wherein a manual valve is separately interposed in the same water supply conduit as the said electrically controlled valve to permit optional manual operation.