Emergency wash station

• US 5,754,990 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haws Corporation
• Original Assignee: Haws Corporation
• Inventors: Gurries, Albert G. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US08/707,002
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 4/620, 239/590, 239/543
• US Class Current: 4/620
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/02 for the eyes

Abstract

An emergency wash station is provided for flushing irritants from the eyes and face of an individual, particularly such as person working in a laboratory or industrial environment. The wash station comprises a basin with a pair of upstanding flow risers disposed therein and having spray heads at their upper ends. An actuator valve is adapted for movement to an open position to supply water for flow upwardly through the flow risers and spray heads. The flow risers each include a flow conduit leading to the associated spray head, in combination with at least one blind-end passage, to achieve more rapid initial delivery of water to the spray heads when the actuator valve is opened.

Claims

1. An emergency wash station, comprising:

a drain basin;

at least one flow riser upstanding within said drain basin, said flow riser having an upper end with a spray head thereon and a lower end, said flow riser further defining a flow conduit for water flow from said lower end to said spray head, and at least one blind-end passage open at said lower end;

manifold means defining a manifold cavity in flow communication with said lower end of said flow riser; and

water supply means for supplying a flow of water to said manifold cavity;

said drain basin and said flow riser comprising a unitary plastic molding, and further wherein said manifold means comprises a manifold member mounted on an underside of said drain basin and cooperating therewith to define said manifold cavity, said manifold member including a fitting for connection to said water supply means, and a flow passage extending between said fitting and said manifold cavity, said manifold member further including an access port for removable mounting of a flow control unit along said flow passage.

2. The emergency wash station of claim 1 wherein said drain basin has an upper rim, said spray head on said flow riser being disposed at least slightly above said upper rim.

3. The emergency wash station of claim 1 wherein said at least one flow riser comprises a pair of flow risers upstanding within said drain basin, each of said flow risers having the lower end thereof in flow communication with said manifold cavity.

4. The emergency wash station of claim 3 wherein said drain basin includes a floor and an upwardly projecting outer side wall, said pair of flow risers projecting upwardly from said floor in spaced-apart relation, and further wherein a portion of said floor disposed between said flow risers has an upwardly arched convex configuration.

5. The emergency wash station of claim 1 wherein said water supply means includes a water supply conduit connected to said manifold cavity and valve means for selectively opening said water supply conduit to water flow.

6. The emergency wash station of claim 1 further including pressure control means for regulating the pressure of water supplied to said manifold cavity.

7. The emergency wash station of claim 1 wherein said flow control unit includes means for regulating the pressure of water supplied to said manifold cavity.

8. An emergency wash station, comprising:

a bowl-shape drain basin having a floor and an upwardly projecting outer side wall terminating at an upper rim;

a pair of flow risers upstanding from the floor of said basin in spaced-apart relation, each of said flow risers having an upper end and lower end, each of said flow risers further including an open flow conduit extending between said upper and lower ends and at least one blind-end passage open at said lower end;

manifold means defining a manifold cavity in common flow communication with said lower ends of said flow risers; and

water supply means including an actuator valve for selectively supplying a flow of water to said manifold cavity;

said drain basin and said flow risers comprising a unitary plastic molding, and further wherein said manifold means comprises a manifold member mounted on an underside of said drain basin and cooperating therewith to define said manifold cavity, said manifold member including a fitting for connection to said water supply means, and a flow passage extending between said fitting and said manifold cavity, said manifold member further including an access port for removable mounting of a flow control unit along said flow passage.

9. The emergency wash station of claim 8 wherein said upper ends of said flow risers are disposed at least slightly above said basin rim.

10. The emergency wash station of claim 8 further including spray heads mounted at the upper ends of said flow risers, said spray heads being disposed at least slightly above said basin rim.

11. The emergency wash station of claim 8 wherein a portion of said floor disposed between said flow risers has an upwardly arched convex configuration.