CN1136821C

CN1136821C - Electrostatic hand disinfection device and method

Info

Publication number: CN1136821C
Application number: CNB971929629A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R・S・德克辛; R·S·德克辛
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1996-03-11
Filing date: 1997-02-28
Publication date: 2004-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-28
Also published as: EP0963181A1; ID16357A; AU2061997A; WO1997033527A1; AU730716B2; CA2248694A1; JPH11506040A; CA2248694C; CN1213281A

Abstract

An electrostatic hand sterilizer (10) uses at least two electrostatic fluid emitters (71-73, 81-83) to dispense a sterilizing fluid onto substantially all surfaces of a hand when a user's two hands are placed in proximity to the electrostatic fluid emitters (71-73, 81-83). The electrostatic hand sterilizer (10) comprises: a frame (11) on which there are mounted electrostatic fluid emitters (71-73, 81-83) which preferably separate the spray directed to one hand from the spray directed to the other hand in two chambers (12, 13); a reservoir (60) of sterilizing fluid (50, 51) in fluid communication with the electrostatic fluid emanator (71-73, 81-83); a power supply (20) adapted to provide electrostatic energy to the electrostatic fluid emitter (71-73, 81-83); and a one-time dispensing operation actuator (21) controlled by a user to dispense electrostatic energy from the power source (20) to the electrostatic fluid emitters (71-73, 81-83) such that a predetermined amount of antiseptic fluid (50, 51) is directed from each electrostatic fluid emitter (71-73, 81-83) to each hand of the user during one dispensing operation. In one embodiment, each hand is sprayed with an opposite charge. In another embodiment, each hand is sprayed by a plurality of electrostatic fluid emitters (71-73, 81-83) of opposite charge. In yet another embodiment, the electrostatic fluid emitters (71-73, 81-83) directed at each hand are pulsed such that each pulse has an opposite charge. In yet another embodiment, the user is grounded and thus does not require an opposite charge.

Description

Static hand disinfection device and method

Technical field

The present invention relates to hands sterilization method and device and fluidic electrostatic spray.More particularly, the present invention relates to a kind of can the spraying to both hands simultaneously and can on human body, not form the hands sterilization method and the device of electrostatic charge.

Background technology

As everybody knows, to be delivered to the other parts of human body or to be delivered to raw-food material from hands be pathophorous a kind of common mode to microbial pathogens.Some possible pathogenic bacterias are escherichia coli, Salmonella, shigella dysenteriae, Listerella and staphylococcus aureus.These pathogenic bacterias in polluted raw-food material may be caused serious disease even death.The comprise dead accident that food pollution caused of immediate cause in food processing process made public awareness arrive the serious probability that inappropriate food processing exists.This production with fast food is particularly relevant.Though emphasize the suitable health of washing one's hands usually, in fact food preparation and processing personnel seldom observe.Even food preparation and processing personnel observe the regulations such as " washing one's hands before leaving the washroom ",, the behavior of washing one's hands provides sufficient sterilization but generally being not enough to the adversary.Therefore, the pathogenic bacteria in the washroom to be delivered to the situation of raw-food material very general.

The washroom is not unique polluter.Eating the simple conversion that is worked into the food processing of making raw also is a kind of common polluter, and for example, Carnis Gallus domesticus is often by salmonella-polluted.In addition, the food processing personnel often touch banknote, clean desktop or drag base plate, and any behavior all may be polluted hands, causes the transmission of pathogenic bacteria.Because time and inconvenient relation, it is uncommon to go to the washroom to wash one's hands between different behaviors.Food processing and preparation personnel are not often urged to carry out suitable disinfecting, and management personnel also are difficult to strengthen the degree of observing of this respect.As noted earlier, if the inadequate words of the behavior of washing one's hands also are difficult to guarantee sterilization even washed hands.Even under the situation of fully washing one's hands, almost everyone can run into the towel allotter even hold the problem of washroom door of turning off the tap, shake hands, and these behaviors all provide the approach that is enough to the recontamination hands.If can make the sterilization of hands simpler, more convenient, preferably more close operating point, then this will be a bigger improvement.If can make degree of disinfection and reliability not be subjected to individual's manual the influence, then this will be another bigger improvement.

Someone had once done some and had attempted to remedy this problem.For example, adopt those to use sterilization glue or foamy hands sterilization platform.These still all rely on the hand operated of user to come allocated product.This hand operated is time-consuming, will take suitable program, the most important thing is to depend on the individual behavior of user.Some hands sterilization platforms need the manipulation sterilised products of distributing.It is the pollution of the instrument that is used for dealing with problems originally that the contact of hands may exactly cause.The foaming of sterilised products and gelling can make product expand, thereby are more convenient for hands the sterilised products allocation packet being around on hand.Yet the amount that provides sterilization required has been provided the amount of sterilised products, and this only is for this product dispensation being paperwrapped on hand.Unnecessary product is in disorder and be not easy to use, and they are prolonged on hand evaporation time.In addition, too much product may cause other skin problem, such as the dry and cracking of skin, even the natural microorganisms group who destroys hands.

April in 1992, the European patent application publication No. 056767841 of disclosed Mongkol on the 29th disclosed the fluid distributing apparatus of a kind of hands sterilization usefulness, and it uses infrared detector, starting pressure spray bottle when the hands of user places below the spray valve.Its objective is " also at an easy rate it being sprayed on the whole watch face " with a kind of full automatic mode jet fluid.Yet the simple spraying adversary who carries out from spray bottle does not have affinity, thereby still needs user mobile hands below aerosol apparatus to realize comprehensive spraying.And many effective sterilant fluid are wasted because of excessive spraying, and this is readily appreciated that for the people who used the paint spray jar.In addition, the excessive spraying of sterilant fluid is understood the polluting device ambient air, causes the problem of suction aspect.

The United States Patent (USP) 5,292,067 of authorizing people such as Jeffries on March 8th, 1994 has disclosed a kind of electrostatic atomizer.This device that people such as Jeffries disclose is a kind of hand-held device, and it especially is used for spraying the relatively low liquid of resistance, such as being used for the water base of personal protective equipment and alcohol-based liquid, as deodorizer, antiperspirant, perfume and eruption liquid.United States Patent (USP) 5,292,067 has also disclosed a kind of handle portion or trigger, and it has an exposure contact for the hands cooperation, so that the route of a ground connection is provided in use.Because the electrostatic spray of emitting takes electric charge on the targeted skin surface to, thereby gathers electric charge on one's body at user.If there is not the ground connection route, user electrostatic charge on one's body will be gathered, and usually cause the static discharge that makes us uncomfortable.

Summary of the invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a kind of improved hand disinfection device, it by uniform sterilant fluid coating is allocated in user on hand and the adversary carries out evenly effectively sterilization, wherein fluidic assigning process is not subjected to basically that user is manual to be influenced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kind of hand disinfection device, it can provide the product that the tabernacle pathogenic bacteria is played the needed minimum of effective bactericidal action, makes its adversary's the natural microorganisms group and the destruction of natural conditions reach minimum simultaneously.

Another purpose of the present invention is to use simply by providing a kind of, hand disinfection device convenient and that do not have residue or suction aspect to influence rapidly and in fact encourages user to observe health system.

Another object of the present invention is: a kind of hand disinfection device that can carry out disinfection to both hands simultaneously is provided; A kind of suitable hand position and hand disinfection device of processing of monitoring is provided; And provide a kind of can be in vision and/or acoustically show the processing of duty, user and the hand disinfection device of health system observing situation.

In one aspect of the invention, a kind ofly be used for that sterilant fluid is coated on user hand disinfection device on hand and comprise a framework and at least two electrostatic fluid emitters that are loaded on the framework.It also has one and is used to supply with the power supply that device and a sterilant fluid, that be communicated with electrostatic fluid emitter phase fluid is suitable for the electrostatic fluid emitter is provided electrostatic energy.In addition, also has a primary distribution function driver by user control, in order to start electrostatic energy from the distribution of power supply to the electrostatic fluid emitter, make when hands when user places near the electrostatic fluid emitter, be directed to the hands that the electrostatic fluid emitter also flows to user therefrom from the sterilant fluid of fluid supply source.

Framework can comprise that also one is coated on first Room and on the user right hand with sterilant fluid and simultaneously sterilant fluid is coated on second Room on the user left hand.First and second Room all can have at least one static emitter facing to the user hands.Under the situation of the second static emitter of first static emitter with right hand and left hand, its polarity can be opposite with the second static emitter in the primary distribution operating process for the first static emitter.Perhaps, framework can be equipped with one first and one second right hand electrostatic fluid emitter, it is provided with and is used for sterilant fluid is coated on the right hand, and one first and one second left hand electrostatic fluid emitter is housed, it is provided with and is used for sterilant fluid is coated on left hand, and wherein first right hand and the first left hand electrostatic fluid emitter its polarity in the primary distribution operating process is opposite with the second left hand electrostatic fluid emitter with second right hand.

This device can comprise that also one is used for the device of the sterilant fluid of metering predeterminable quantity, such as a dosing pump between sterilant fluid supply source and electrostatic fluid emitter or a metering valve.In addition, device also can have a device that is used to show the device duty.Sterilant fluid supply source even can be a replacement cartridge.

In another aspect of this invention, a kind ofly evenly apply the user hands and hands after need not to apply carries out method of operating with sterilant fluid, it may further comprise the steps: every hands of user is put into hand disinfection device; And start the electrostatic spray of sterilant fluid synchronously to every hands of user, simultaneously, every hands of user is as the object of the droplet of receiving belt electrostatic charge.This hand disinfection device has at least two electrostatic fluid emitters.Step also comprises: make it evenly be coated on every of user on hand the time when spraying enough sterilant fluid, stop electrostatic spray, make every of user not have substantially on hand under the unnecessary fluid drop, can not produce excessive spraying basically; And every hands of user shifted out from hand disinfection device.

The arm of user and health can provide conductive path for the electric charge of the opposite polarity between the user hands, to guarantee can not gather electric charge on one's body at user basically simultaneously to user hands disinfectant.Perhaps, the electric charge that every hands of user can be every opposite polarity on hand of user provides conductive path, to guarantee can not gather electric charge on one's body at user basically simultaneously to user hands disinfectant.Perhaps, electrostatic spray can send from each electrostatic fluid emitter pulse, makes alternative pulse have opposite polarity, thereby guarantees can not gather electric charge on one's body at user basically simultaneously to user hands disinfectant.Perhaps, user can ground connection, to guarantee can not gather electric charge on one's body at user basically simultaneously to user hands disinfectant.In addition, the sterilant fluid of scheduled volume can be assigned to user on hand.

Description of drawings

Although description is specifically to indicate and to know that the claims that require protection domain of the present invention are end; but we think; by understanding the present invention below in conjunction with accompanying drawing better to the description of preferred embodiment, label identical in the accompanying drawing is represented components identical, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the axonometric chart of a preferred embodiment of hand sanitizer of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the circuit and the underground schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The specific embodiment

In preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the invention provides a kind of hand sanitizer, what it was total is represented by label 10.Hand sanitizer 10 comprises a framework 11, and this framework further comprises a right hand chamber 12 and a left hand chamber 13.

Electrostatic spray nozzle

71,72 and 73 can see that in right hand chamber 12

electrostatic spray nozzle

81,82 and 83 also can be seen in the chamber 13 leftward simultaneously.Display floater 22 can offer user with the work state information and the instruction of hand sanitizer.Sound convertor 23 can provide acoustical signal, to match with display floater 22.

In the present invention, term " chamber " is meant with fluid a hands is independent of the position that the another hands is sprayed.A chamber that is used for a hands is designed to the corresponding chamber of user another hands isolated, and fluid spray can not mixed.Yet, if but aimed at the spraying so that the adversary carry out isolating, do not have the blended spraying of remarkable fluid, these chambers can have, can be not used in yet the separator of separation.

Figure 2 illustrates the particularly circuit and the underground schematic diagram of preferred embodiment of hand sanitizer 10.Plug-type transformator 20 can be reduced to line voltage distribution lower running voltage, preferably is about 12 volts.Transformator 20 offers controller 21 with electric power.Controller 21 offers display floater 22 with duty and command signal.Controller 21 also offers appropriate signal sound convertor 23.Controller 21 also offers electric power the detection system that exists of the right hand and left hand, and these systems comprise

RF transmitter

30 and 31 and infrared ray sensor 32 and 33.When the user of hand sanitizer 10 inserted the right hand and left hand chamber 12 and 13 with his or her hands 100, as shown in Figure 1, pick off 32 and 33 can identify the interruption of

emitter

30 and 31 signals that sent respectively.This RF transmitter and sensing system can be realized the contactless detection of hands, so that carry out the once sterilizing operation.At one particularly in the preferred embodiment, pick off 32 and 33 comprises the insertion that detects hands and the array of appropriate location.Sensor array also can detect opening of finger, for example shows finger a plurality of shades separately by " seeing ".For the adversary carries out the most effective sterilization, preferably make finger separately, so that the bactericidal liquid physical ability applies whole watch face, or even between the finger.

The existence that detection is sold can start the primary distribution operation, and its middle controller 21 can show that by display floater 22 and sound convertor circulation starts earlier.Perhaps, can start the primary distribution operation with the Body contact pick off.But preferably the hands of user does not contact any surface by spraying the time.In sound and visual indicator effect, electric power is assigned to high tension generator 25, and this generator provides the high voltage of opposite polarity for static coupling 26 and 27.In Fig. 2, on right hand liquid sterilization product 50, apply a negative voltage, apply a positive voltage on the liquid sterilization product 51 leftward.When reaching suitable voltage, this voltage preferably is about 5000 volts to 15000 volts, and controller 21 offers pump motor 24 with electric power, this motor and then driving

pump

52 and 53.

In primary distribution operation,

pump

52 and 53 is respectively with the storage tank 54 and 55 of sterilised

products

50 and 51 sucking-off electric insulations, and simultaneously sterilised

products

50 and 51 pressed right hand

static emitter

71,72 and 73 and left hand

static emitter

81,82 and 83 respectively.At one particularly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, people's such as the work of static emitter and Jeffries United States Patent (USP) 5,292, the nozzle that is disclosed in 067 is similar, nozzle shown in its Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, wherein atomizing mainly is the result that the induced banded liquid spray in high-tension electricity place that applies is separated into droplet subsequently.United States Patent (USP) 5,292,067 quote at this only for reference.The high-tension opposite polarity that puts on the

sterilised products

50 and 51 that is assigned to the user right hand and left hand makes moderate progress with respect to unipolarity static distributor.At first, the sterilization spray that has opposite charges is repealed by implication by the intravital conductive path of user, thereby spraying continues towards neutral target.Owing in the body of user, can not form concrete polarity, thereby every hands is preferential target for ensuing spraying.And because electric charge is neutralized, thereby user can not run into and gathers electric charge and suffer the situation of electrostatic shock near the lower object of electromotive force the time.This electric shock belongs to the level of making us uncomfortable, does not reach dangerous level, but is undesirable after all.In addition, these advantages do not need user electrostatic grounding just can realize, thereby have eliminated the recontaminate that may cause because of hands ground connection, thereby more efficiently sterilization can be provided.

Perhaps, for the electrostatic spray of needs, can make user the other parts ground connection except that hands with opposite charges.Yet this ground connection is also inadvisable, is effective because can not guarantee this.If one does not have the people of suitable ground connection to gather the health electric charge accidentally, then this person also may contact earthed surface later on and be made us uncomfortable and beyond thought electrostatic shock.

When the sterilised products of scheduled volume being assigned to the user hands, slave controller 21 is cut off to the electric power of pump 52 and 53.Shortly after that, the electric power of supplying with high-tension transformer 25 is cut off, and emits from electrostatic atomiser to guarantee any residual sterilised products.A signal can be sent to display floater 22 then, finishes to inform the user circulation, and hands has been sterilized and finished.If user is extracted his or her hands too early out in a coating procedure, then pick off 32 and/or 33 will be informed controller 21 to this situation, thereby interrupt the primary distribution operation.In a preferred embodiment, hand sanitizer 10 will be informed the extraction behavior that the user hands is too early by demonstration or sound-producing device, and the prompting user suitably inserts hands and repeat the once sterilizing operation.

Sterilised products

50 and 51 is semiconductive, thereby high voltage can be transferred back to insulating storage tank 54 and 55 respectively.At one particularly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, insulation storage tank 54 and 55 is supplied with by a bigger shared big volume storage tank 60.At one particularly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, because sterilised

products

50 and 51 is by with the electrostatic charge that goes up opposite polarity, thereby sterilised

products

50 and 51 must be electrically insulated from each other.Be more preferably, in the primary distribution operation, make big volume sterilization supply source 61 and sterilised

products

50 and 51 electric insulations.In the embodiment of Fig. 2, show the

air gap

62 and 63 that lays respectively at sterilised

products

50 and 51 tops, thereby the high-tension electricity insulation is provided.Because to make

sterilised products

50 and 51 static electrifications are intermittently operated that take place, thereby just not need electric insulation in during not distributing between batch operation in the primary distribution operating process.Therefore, sterilised products can flow through by

electromagnetic valve

64 and 65 during not distributing.Big volume sterilised products 61 flows on the sterilised

products

50 and 51 surfaces that lays respectively in the insulation storage tank 54 and 55 by

electromagnetic valve

64 and 65 in the primary distribution operating process, may cause high voltage transfer to arrive electric pathway between big volume sterilised products 61 or sterilised products 50 and 51.Low

liquid level sensor

56 and 57 can detect lower liquid level in the insulation storage tank 54 and 55, so that controller 21 can drive

electromagnetic valve

64 and 65 between the primary distribution operation.

High level sensor

58 and 59 can detect the liquid level of sterilised

products

50 and 51 respectively, closes

electromagnetic valve

64 and 65 respectively to inform controller 21.Also can adopt other device that High-Voltage Insulation is provided.For example, can adopt high voltage wriggling insulation pump that electric insulation is provided, all rollers in this peristaltic pump clamp an elastic tube in a plurality of positions around cylindrical cavity, and this insulation pump also can be used as pumping installations.Pick off 70 can detect sterilant fluid liquid level lower in the big volume storage tank 60, but and controlled device 21 be used for providing suitable indication for user.

At one particularly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, big volume storage tank 60 is replacement cartridge of filling a certain amount of sterilised products in advance.Common primary distribution operation can apply about 0.3 to about 0.5 milliliter sterilised products.Capacity be about one liter, and the big volume storage tank 60 that can be contained in the framework of hand sanitizer 2000 primary distributions operation can be provided.Bigger big volume supply source can be away from the hand sanitizer of reality, and can be coupled by small tubes.The scheduled volume that is distributed will depend on Several Factors, for example, and the size of concrete sterilization component, user hands and required sterilization degree.Verified two kinds of aqueous solutions that chemical substance is ethanol and isopropyl alcohol with good bactericidal effect.The distinct advantages of hand sanitizer of the present invention is, can apply thin sterilised products coating uniformly on watch face, and this is because sterilised products has electrostatic attraction to the user hands.Thin coating can be with the side effect of sterilised products, is reduced to minimum degree such as skin dehydration and adversary's natural microorganisms group's destruction etc.

Referring to Fig. 2, big volume storage tank 60 can be pulled down from compressing sealing 69 when big volume sterilised products 61 uses up.After pulling down big volume storage tank 60, probe 68 will be extracted out from big volume storage tank 60 inside, check ball 66 is fitted on the sealing surface 67, thereby block any residual sterilised products 61.Next big volume storage tank 60 is being installed, for example be a box of filling product in advance after, probe 68 will push away sealing surface 67 to check ball 66, thereby make big volume sterilised products 61 flow to electromagnetic valve 64 and 65.Also can adopt other device after installation, to open the new box of filling product in advance, such as punching barrier film and deformable elastic valve.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in primary distribution operation, make high positive pressure stationary electrode on the first static emitter band in the right hand chamber, and make the negative static polarity of high pressure on the second static emitter band in the right hand chamber.Also similarly dispose in the chamber leftward, that is, the static polarity between the static emitter in the left hand chamber is opposite.In each chamber, the entrained opposite electric charge of electrostatic spray of emitting from the static emitter of oppositely charged tends to payment by the natural conductive path in the hands when contacting with hands.Its effect roughly and have the neutralization of left hand in the hand sanitizer of opposite charges and the opposite charges between the right hand similar between the left hand and right hand chamber.But the advantage with the spraying of opposite electrostatic charge in each chamber is, each hands is not dealt with and can gather static on one's body at user.

In second alternative embodiment of the present invention, static emitter pulse ground can be opened and closed.Each pulse has opposite electric charge.This is to prevent that electric charge from gathering at unearthed user on one's body, thereby keeps user hands another kind of method as the target of being with neutral charge in electrostatic spray process.

Hand sanitizer of the present invention all has more than one static emitter in the left hand and right hand chamber, the static polarity of the static emitter of right hand chamber is opposite with the static polarity of the static emitter of left hand chamber, in this disinfector, the polar spraying of identical static of being with of being emitted makes them repel mutually.The result makes spraying in each chamber than the more disperse under the opposite static polarity condition.Yet hands still keeps electric neutrality substantially, thereby remains the selected objective target of the spraying of being emitted.

Though more than illustrate and described specific embodiments of the invention, but under the situation that does not break away from the spirit and scope of the present invention, can carry out various variation and change to it, this is conspicuous for those skilled in the art, should cover all these with appending claims and drop on change within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hand disinfection device for applying bactericidal fluid to the user's hands, comprising:

a) a frame (11);

b) a germicidal fluid supply source (60);

c) a power source (20); and

d) a dispensing operation driver (21) controlled by said user for initiating a dispensing operation process;

It is characterized in that,

The hand disinfection device also at least includes a first electrostatic fluid emitter (71) and a second electrostatic fluid emitter (81) mounted on the frame, the electrostatic fluid emitter is in fluid contact with the sterilizing fluid supply source In communication, the power supply is adapted to provide electrostatic energy to the electrostatic fluid emitter, wherein the one-dispensing operation actuator initiates i) dispensing of electrostatic energy from the power supply and ii) transfer of the germicidal fluid from the supply to The electrostatic fluid emitter is dispensed such that when the user's hand is placed in the vicinity of the electrostatic fluid emitter, the germicidal fluid from the supply is directed toward the electrostatic fluid emitter and from the electrostatic fluid emitter. An electrostatic fluid emitter flows toward the user's hand.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the frame (11) further comprises a first chamber (12) for applying the sterilizing fluid to the right hand of the user and a chamber for simultaneously applying the sterilizing fluid to the right hand of the user. The antiseptic fluid is applied to the second chamber (13) on the user's left hand such that the antiseptic fluid from the first chamber does not mix with the antiseptic fluid from the second chamber.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and second chambers each have at least one electrostatic fluid emitter directed toward a user's hand.

4. The hand disinfection device according to claim 1, characterized in that,

a) said first electrostatic fluid emitter (71) is configured to apply said germicidal fluid to said user's right hand;

b) said second electrostatic fluid emitter (81) is arranged to apply said germicidal fluid to said user's left hand synchronously,

The electrostatic polarity of the first electrostatic fluid emitter is opposite to the electrostatic polarity of the second electrostatic fluid emitter during the one dispensing operation.

5. The hand disinfection device according to claim 1, characterized in that,

a) The first electrostatic fluid emitter (71) is configured to apply the sterilizing fluid to the right hand of the user, and the hand disinfection device also includes another right-hand electrostatic fluid emitter connected to the frame , which is configured to simultaneously apply the germicidal fluid to the right hand of the user, the first electrostatic fluid emitter having an electrostatic polarity that is electrostatically identical to that of the other right hand during the one dispensing operation. The opposite of the fluid emitter;

b) The second electrostatic fluid emitter (81) is configured to apply the sterilizing fluid to the left hand of the user, and the hand disinfection device also includes another left-hand electrostatic fluid emitter connected to the frame , which is configured to simultaneously apply said antiseptic fluid to said user's left hand, said second electrostatic fluid emitter having an electrostatic polarity that is electrostatically identical to said other left hand during said one dispensing operation. the opposite of the fluid emitter; and

The sterilizing fluid is in fluid communication with each electrostatic fluid emitter, and the power source (20) is adapted to provide electrostatic energy to each electrostatic fluid emitter simultaneously.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, further comprising a device for metering a predetermined amount of said sterilizing fluid.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein the supply of germicidal fluid is a replaceable cartridge.

8. A method of uniformly coating a user's hand with a germicidal fluid without requiring manipulation of the coated hand, said method comprising the steps of:

a) placing each hand of the user into a hand sanitizing device having at least two electrostatic fluid emitters;

b) synchronously starting the electrostatic spraying of the germicidal fluid to each hand of the user, while each hand of the user serves as an electrode for receiving charged droplets;

c) stopping the electrostatic spraying when enough antiseptic fluid has been sprayed to evenly coat each hand of the user such that substantially no excess fluid drips from each hand of the user, substantially no overspray; and

d) removing each hand of the user from the hand sanitizing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user's arms and body provide a conductive path for charges of opposite polarity between the user's hands to ensure At the same time substantially no electrical charge builds up on the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each hand of the user provides a conductive path for charges of opposite polarity directed to each hand of the user to ensure that the The user's hands are sanitized without substantially accumulating charge on the user.