Vision directed eye wash

• US 5,607,410 A
• Filed: 02/17/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John D. Branch
• Original Assignee: John D. Branch
• Inventors: Branch, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US08/390,418
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 604/294-302, 128/200.23, 222/498, 222/527, 222/533, 222/556
• US Class Current: 604/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/02 for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/075 Bulb type
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0054 Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/04 Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles

Abstract

A vision directed eye wash system includes an eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed. A reservoir contains a supply of fluid. A tube is coupled at one end to the reservoir and the other end thereof is positioned adjacent the eye support for dispensing fluid from the reservoir into the eye. A mirror is positioned adjacent the reservoir for enabling the user to view the eye member between flushes. The tube may be positioned in a trough interconnecting the reservoir and eye support. The trough is generally of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the axis of the trough and the axis of the reservoir are generally perpendicular to each other when the eye member is viewed in the mirror and parallel to each other when the system is closed for storage.

Claims

1. A vision directed eye wash system comprising:

an eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed thereon;

a fluid reservoir formed of a container having an axis and containing a supply of fluid therein;

a tube coupled at one end to said reservoir and another end thereof positioned adjacent the eye support for dispensing said fluid in said reservoir into the eye;

a mirror positioned adjacent said reservoir for enabling a user to observe the eye between flushes, said eye support and said mirror being formed in generally parallel planes for enabling the user to view his eye between applications of said fluid; and

a trough interconnecting said fluid reservoir and said eye support, said trough having a longitudinally extending axis and side walls interconnected by a bottom wall to collect excess solution flowing from said tube when fluid is dispensed and to direct fluid away from the eye support, said tube including a portion adjacent said another end positioned in said trough and extending along and mounted directly on said bottom wall of said trough.

2. A vision directed eye wash system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said trough is generally U-shaped in cross-section, the axis of said trough being formed perpendicular to said U-shaped trough cross-section, said trough axis and said reservoir axis being generally perpendicular to each other when the eye member is viewed in said mirror, and said axes are parallel to each other when said system is closed for storage.

3. A vision directed eye wash system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said eye support is formed of a rubber ring mounted on an end wall of said trough for minimizing blinking when dispensing said fluid, and an eye vision axis is adapted to be parallel to the axis of said trough member when said eye vision axis is adapted to be perpendicular to the plane of said mirror and said eye support.

4. A vision directed eye wash system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said eye support contains upper and lower flared flanges which are adapted to abut upper and lower eyelids, respectively, when the eye member is placed adjacent said eye support forcing the eyelids apart.

5. A vision directed eye wash system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said another end of said tube is raised above the said trough bottom wall.

6. A vision directed eye wash system comprising:

a friction ring eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed thereon, said eye member having an eye vision axis;

a fluid reservoir formed of a container containing a supply of fluid therein, said reservoir being mounted in a housing;

a trough adapted to have the eye member positioned at one end thereof and having said reservoir at another end thereof, said trough being formed of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall;

fluid path means for interconnecting said reservoir to a fluid path outlet, said fluid path means including a fluid path portion formed within said trough, mounted directly to and along said bottom wall;

a mirror mounted on said housing in a plane parallel to the plane of said eye support; and

said outlet being positioned adjacent the end of said trough where the eye member is positioned for directing fluid toward said eye support at an angle to an axis perpendicular to the plane of said mirror and said eye support and adapted to enable retention of a user'"'"'s head in a position where the eye vision axis is generally horizontal.

7. A vision directed eye wash system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said fluid path outlet is raised above said trough bottom wall.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said housing is pivotally mounted on said another end of said trough.

9. A vision directed eye wash system comprising:

an eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed thereon;

a fluid reservoir formed of a container containing a supply of fluid therein, said reservoir being mounted in a housing;

a trough adapted to have the eye member positioned at one end thereof and having said reservoir at the other end thereof, said trough having a fluid path formed therein for interconnecting said reservoir to an outlet adjacent said eye support;

a mirror mounted on said housing in a plane parallel to the plane of said eye support;

said outlet being positioned for directing fluid toward said eye support at an angle to an axis perpendicular to the plane of said mirror and said eye support; and

said housing and said reservoir being joined together rotate into said trough when not in use, said housing containing a cushion for covering said outlet when said housing and reservoir are rotated into said trough for shutting off the flow of fluid from said outlet.

10. A vision directed eye wash system comprising:

an eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed thereon;

a fluid reservoir formed of a container containing a supply of fluid therein, said reservoir being mounted in a housing;

a trough adapted to have the eye member positioned at one end thereof and having said reservoir at the other end thereof, said trough having a fluid path formed therein for interconnecting said reservoir to an outlet adjacent said eye support;

a mirror mounted on said housing in a plane parallel to the plane of said eye support;

said outlet being positioned for directing fluid toward said eye support at an angle to an axis perpendicular to the plane of said mirror and said eye support; and

said housing and said reservoir being joined together to rotate into said trough when not in use, said housing containing a means for covering said outlet when said housing and reservoir are rotated into said trough for shutting off the flow of fluid from said outlet.

11. A vision directed eye wash system comprising:

an eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed thereon;

a housing;

a fluid reservoir positioned in said housing and formed of a container having an axis and having a supply of fluid therein;

a tube coupled at one end to said reservoir and another end thereof positioned for dispensing fluid in said reservoir into the eye member;

a rotatable sleeve formed in said housing enabling said housing to rotate; and

means for coupling said one end of said tube to said reservoir, said means comprising a fluid channel extending axially through said rotatable sleeve.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said housing and said reservoir are joined together to rotate to a position for shutting off the flow of fluid from said reservoir.