Apparatus for and method of disinfecting hands

• US 6,431,189 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 700303 Alberta Ltd.
• Original Assignee: 700303 Alberta Ltd.
• Inventors: Deibert, Ronald Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/335,761
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 134/102.2, 134/179, 134/182, 134/199, 134/201, 134/113, 134/57.R, 134/58.R, 128/366, 604/289
• US Class Current: 134/57.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs

Abstract

An apparatus for disinfecting a user'"'"'s hands has a spray chamber or an open spray zone with an opening for a user to insert his or her hands into the chamber. A supply of a disinfecting solution is provided, and preferably comprises a storage tank with a concentrated solution. This solution is mixed with an incoming freshwater supply, e.g. in a venturi valve, and supplied through spray nozzles into the chamber. A sensor detects the presence of a user'"'"'s hands and automatically operates the spray nozzles for a predetermined time. The apparatus can also include a fan with its own timer, to provide a supply of drying air. Thus, a user can insert his or her hands, disinfect them with the disinfecting solution, remove the hands and dry them, without requiring any manual operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for disinfecting a user'"'"'s hands, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a spray zone, the spray zone being substantially open at the front thereof to enable a user to insert both hands and to manipulate both hands within the spray zone without contacting the housing, the housing including a collection portion for collecting excess spray from the spray zone;

a spray means comprising a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on the housing and directed rearwardly away from the front of the spray zone, for generating a spray of a liquid within the spray chamber and mounted on the drum;

a supply means for supplying a liquid to the spray means;

a valve means connected between the supply means and the spray means for controlling supply of the cleaning liquid;

a sensor means mounted on the spray chamber, for sensing the presence of a user'"'"'s hands within the spray chamber; and

a control circuit including a first timer and connected to the sensor means and the valve means, the control circuit being adapted to open the valve means to supply the liquid to the spray means when the sensor means detects the presence of a user'"'"'s hands and maintaining the valve means open for a period determined by the first timer wherein the spray means is dimensioned and the first timer sets said period such that the total volume of liquid sprayed onto a user'"'"'s hands is in the range of 3 to 5 cc.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply means comprises a storage tank for a concentrated solution and a first inlet for a water supply, and the valve means is connected to both the first inlet and the storage tank and has an outlet connected to the spray means, the valve means, when open, mixing the concentrated solution and the water in a desired ratio, to form a dilute solution to form said liquid which is supplied to the spray means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spray chamber includes an outlet for waste liquid, adapted to be connected to an external drain.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve means comprises a venturi valve.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spray nozzles are, together, adapted to spray liquid at a rate in the range of 2.5 to 3.2 GPH, whereby the largest portion of the liquid sprayed remains on a user'"'"'s hands and only a minor portion is discharged through the outlet.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, which includes a fan means for providing a flow of drying air, to encourage a user to rub the hands together to distribute the liquid over the hands.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fan is connected to and controlled by the control circuit and the control circuit includes a second timer for timing operation of the fan.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control circuit includes a relay and the valve means includes an actuating solenoid, wherein the first timer is connected to the first relay for actuation thereof, and the first relay includes a first contact means connected to the solenoid for actuation thereof, to open the valve means, and to the second timer, to commence actuation thereof.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, which includes a level sensor on the storage tank, wherein the level sensor is connected to the control circuit and the control circuit includes an indication means, for providing an indication when the level of concentrated solution in the storage tank falls below a predetermined level.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spray means comprises a pair of spray nozzles mounted on the spray chamber below the opening and directed upwardly and rearwardly.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the storage tank is mounted below the spray chamber and the supply means includes a filling funnel mounted above the spray chamber and connecting to the storage tank and a vent to vent air from the storage tank during filling.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the valve means comprises a venturi valve and wherein the storage tank includes a filtered suction pickup extending from a position adjacent the bottom of the storage tank to the venturi valve.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, which includes a framework for supporting the spray chamber and the storage tank and an external casing surrounding the storage tank and the spray chamber, with the opening for the spray chamber extending through the casing into the spray chamber, wherein the apparatus is adapted for mounting on an elevated surface and the storage tank is provided above the spray chamber, and wherein the control circuit is provided on a panel mounted above the spray chamber and wherein the control circuit includes a supply line for a connection to a conventional alternating current supply, a junction box to which the supply line is connected and a transformer connected to the junction box, wherein the transformer and the junction box are provided with a weatherproof enclosure and the transformers transform supply voltage to a lower voltage.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the opening into the chamber opens above a centre line of the chamber and tapers inwardly.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the spray nozzles are mounted adjacent ends of the spray chamber and are directed rearwardly and inwardly towards the centre of the chamber.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, which includes a framework for supporting the spray chamber and the storage tank and an external casing surrounding the framework, the storage tank and the spray chamber, with the opening for the spray chamber extending through the casing into the spray chamber, and wherein the control circuit is provided on a panel below the spray chamber and the opening and wherein the control circuit includes a supply line for a connection to a conventional alternating current supply, a junction box to which the supply line is connected and a transformer connected to a junction box, wherein the transformer and the junction box are provided with a weatherproof enclosure and the transformer transforms the supply voltage to a lower voltage.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the storage tank is provided with a disinfecting solution comprising:

1.6-2% N-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride;

1.6-2% didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;

0.2-0.4% lauramine oxide;

0.2-0.6% tetrasodium salt of EDTA;

4% glycerin; and

water, the amount of water forming the balance of the composition.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprising an upper portion above the spray zone and a lower portion below the spray zone, wherein the spray zone is generally concave and extends rearwardly between the upper and lower portions, and wherein the lower portion provides the collection portion.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the collection portion is generally trough-shaped and extends transversely and includes retaining means to prevent excess liquid spilling out of the collection portion.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said retaining means comprises one of:

lips at both ends of the trough-shaped collection portion; and

the lower-most portion of the collection portion being dish-shaped, and wherein an outlet drain is provided at the bottom of the collection portion to drain off excess liquid.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein the spray zone has a generally uniform cross-section from one side of the apparatus to the other and is open at either side of the apparatus.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claims 18, 19 or 20, which includes two lower spray nozzles mounted on the lower portion and directed upwardly and rearwardly, and at least one upper spray nozzle mounted on the upper portion and directed downwardly and rearwardly.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the upper portion comprises a generally convexly-shaped wall, wherein the lower portion is defined by a lower convexly-shaped wall, and wherein a concavely-shaped wall extends between the upper and lower convexly-shaped walls, the collection portion comprising a lower-most portion of the concavely-shaped wall and at least part of the lower convexly-shaped wall.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, which includes two nozzles mounted on the lower portion and directed rearwardly and upwardly and at least one nozzle mounted on the upper portion and directed downwardly and rearwardly.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the concavely-shaped wall has a uniform curvature centered on an axis of curvature, wherein the spray nozzles are generally directed towards the axis of curvature, and wherein the two lower-most spray nozzles are directed inwardly.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the housing includes generally planar side walls having forward edges shaped to correspond to the profiles of the upper and lower convexly-shaped wall and the concavely-shaped wall, and wherein the housing includes a planar top surface, a planar base and a generally planar rear surface.

27. An apparatus for disinfecting a user'"'"'s hands, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a spray zone, the spray zone being substantially open at the front thereof to enable a user to insert both hands and to manipulate both hands within the spray zone without contacting the housing, the housing including a collection portion for collecting excess spray from the spray zone;

a spray means comprising a plurality of spray nozzles mounted on the housing and directed rearwardly away from the front of the spray zone, for generating a spray of a liquid within the spray chamber and mounted on the drum;

a supply means for supplying a liquid to the spray means;

a valve means connected between the supply means and the spray means for controlling supply of the cleaning liquid;

a sensor means mounted on the spray chamber, for sensing the presence of a user'"'"'s hands within the spray chamber; and

a control circuit including a first timer and connected to the sensor means and the valve means, the control circuit being adapted to open the valve means to supply the liquid to the spray means when the sensor means detects the presence of a user'"'"'s hands and maintaining the valve means open for a period determined by the first timer, and wherein the first timer is set to supply liquid to the spray for a period in the range of 0.2 to 1.2 sec.

28. An apparatus for disinfecting a user'"'"'s hands, the apparatus comprising:

a spray zone having an axis and being disposed generally horizontally;

an elongate opening in the front of the spray chamber, and providing access from the exterior to the interior of the chamber, to enable a user to insert both hands into the interior of the chamber, without contacting a periphery of the opening, the opening being located above the axis of the spray chamber and inclined downwardly and rearwardly, to promote drainage of liquid back into the chamber;

a spray means comprising a plurality of spray nozzles directed into the spray chamber and rearwardly away from the opening;

a supply means for supplying a liquid to the spray means;

a valve means connected between the supply means and the spray means for controlling supply of the liquid;

a sensor means mounted on the spray chamber, for sensing the presence of a user'"'"'s hands within the spray chamber; and

a control circuit including a first timer and connected to the sensor means and the valve means, the control circuit opening the valve means to supply the liquid to the spray means when the sensor means detects the presence of a user'"'"'s hands and maintaining the valve means open for a period determined by the first timer;

wherein the period set by the first timer and the flow rate from the spray nozzles are such that the volume of liquid sprayed onto a user'"'"'s hands is in the range 3 to 5 cc.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the spray nozzles comprise fog nozzles for forming a fine mist.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein there are two spray nozzles directed rearwardly and towards one another, and wherein the two spray nozzles are configured to provide a total flow rate in the range 2.5 to 3.2 GPH, and wherein the first timer sets the period in the range 0.2 to 1.2 sec, and wherein the second timer sets the period in the range 5 to 10 sec.