EP0244439A1

EP0244439A1 - Arrangement for an eye shower

Info

Publication number: EP0244439A1
Application number: EP19860906014
Authority: EP
Inventors: Billy Nilson
Original assignee: Sterisol AB
Current assignee: Sterisol AB
Priority date: 1985-10-21
Filing date: 1986-10-08
Publication date: 1987-11-11
Also published as: DK163863C; DK163863B; SE447959B; DK287587A; DK287587D0; FI88255B; WO1987002237A1; FI872687A0; FI88255C; FI872687A; SE8504929D0

Abstract

La douche oculaire est du type comportant un récipient (1) en forme de bouteille en matière plastique et rempli lors de sa fabrication d'un fluide de rinçage stérile, et un dispositif à douche (2). Le col (3) du récipient (1) possède à son extrémité extérieure un obturateur (4) dont le matériau constitutif est plus mince que celui du récipient (1). Le dispositif à douche (2) est conçu de manière à posséder, une fois l'obturateur rompu, un orifice de sortie (7) pour le passage du fluide de rinçage, qui communique avec l'intérieur du récipient et un bain d'oeil (6) qui, lors du rinçage de l'oeil, doit centraliser l'orifice de sortie (7) par rapport à l'oeil et de tenir l'oeil ouvert. L'invention est caractérisée par le fait que le dispositif de douche (2) ci-décrit est destiné à enfermer l'obturateur (4) et une partie du col (3) en guise de capuchon (5), et qu'il comporte deux protubérances (8, 10) disposées de telle manière à pénétrer dans l'obturateur (4) et le récipient lorsque le dispositif de douche (2) est déplacé à partir d'une position initiale vers une position de travail lorsque par exemple la main frappe le bain d'oeil (6). La protubérance (8) qui pénètre dans l'obturateur (4) est réalisée sous la forme d'un tube pointu qui permet une communication entre l'intérieur du récipient (1) et l'orifice de sortie (7). La deuxième protubérance (10) est disposée de manière à pénétrer dans le récipient (1) à un endroit situé sur le col (3) au niveau duquel se trouve une plus faible pression de fluide qu'à l'orifice de sortie (7) lorsqu'on retourne le récipient (1).The eyewash station is of the type comprising a container (1) in the form of a plastic bottle and filled during its manufacture with a sterile rinsing fluid, and a shower device (2). The neck (3) of the container (1) has at its outer end a shutter (4) whose constituent material is thinner than that of the container (1). The shower device (2) is designed so as to have, after the closure of the shutter, an outlet orifice (7) for the passage of the rinsing fluid, which communicates with the interior of the container and an eye bath (6) which, when rinsing the eye, must centralize the outlet orifice (7) relative to the eye and keep the eye open. The invention is characterized in that the shower device (2) described below is intended to enclose the shutter (4) and part of the neck (3) by way of a cap (5), and that it comprises two protrusions (8, 10) arranged so as to penetrate the shutter (4) and the container when the shower device (2) is moved from an initial position to a working position when for example the hand hits the eye bath (6). The protuberance (8) which penetrates into the shutter (4) is produced in the form of a pointed tube which allows communication between the interior of the container (1) and the outlet orifice (7). The second protuberance (10) is arranged so as to enter the container (1) at a location on the neck (3) at which there is a lower fluid pressure than at the outlet orifice (7) when the container (1) is turned over.

Description

Arrangement for an eye shower

The present invention relates to an arrangement for an eye shower of the kind which comprises a bottle-like container manufactured from a plastics material and filled at the time of its manufacture with a sterile washing fluid, the neck of which container has at its outer end a seal in which the material is thinner than in the rest of the container, and a shower device so designed as to exhibit, once the seal has been broken, an outlet orifice for washing fluid communicating with the inside of the container and an eye-cup intended during showering of an eye to centralize the outlet orifice relative to the eye and to hold the eye open. An eye shower is intended primarily to be used for washing an eye which has been exposed to, for example, splashes of corrosive liquids, gases, welding spatter or similar.

In such an eye shower of a previously disclosed kind the shower device constitutes a separate unit, which, after the seal has been broken, is applied to the container. The washing fluid is forced out of the container by the application of manual pressure to same. It is clear that a certain degree of skill is required in order to cause the washing fluid to flow out at the appropriate pressure.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages, and this is achieved by the aforementioned shower devices being so designed as to enclose the seal and a part of the neck like a cap, and being executed with two projections so arranged, when the shower device is displaced from an initial position towards a working position by striking with the hand, for example against the eye-cup, as to penetrate the seal and the container, in conjunction with which the projection which penetrates the seal is a pointed tube which provides a communication between the inside of the container and the outlet orifice and the second projection is so arranged as to penetrate the container at a point on the neck at which, when the container is inverted, a lower fluid pressure is present than at the outlet orifice.

A second, and perhaps more serious disadvantage of previously disclosed eye showers is that these are often kept after having been used. It is, in fact, easy to form the impression that the eye shower is quite simply ready to be used again in the event of a future incident, which may mean that the shower remains unused for a period of between a few days and, in the worst case, a couple of years. The originally sterile fluid becomes contaminated in the intervening period, and in the worst case the eye shower will do more harm than good.

It is evident from one particular characteristic feature of the invention that the second of the aforementioned projections is executed with barb-like devices so arranged as to prevent the shower device from leaving the working position. This affords a simple way of reliably establishing whether or not the eye shower has been used. There can also be no doubt as to whether or not the seal has been broken.

In order to ensure that the washing fluid flows evenly during eye showering, the second projection is executed in accordance with a second particular characteristic of the invention with a groove-like depression for the purpose of facilitating the admission of air into the container.

The invention is described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 presents in side view a conventional container for the washing fluid and a shower device in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed view from the side of the shower device in its unactivated position relative to the container with its seal. Fig. 3 illustrates in the form of a cross-section the manner in which the washing fluid flows out through the outlet orifice once the seal has been penetrated. Fig. 4 is an oblique view from the side, -and from that side of the shower device in accordance with Fig. 1 which faces the container. An eye shower in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottle-like container 1 and a shower device 2. The container is preferably of a kind which is ordinarily used for the distribution of physiological saline solution, which is the most common washing fluid in this context. Such a container is manufactured from PVC plastic and is filled and sealed at the time of its manufacture. At the outer end of the neck 3 of the bottle-like container 1 is a seal 4, in which the material is thinner than in the rest of the container.

The shower device 2 comprises a beaker-like cap 5 with an eye-cup 6 arranged at the base of the beaker. The task of this is to centralize an eye which is to be washed in relation to an outlet orifice 7 for the washing fluid which discharges centrally in the eye-cup 6. The outlet orifice 7 communicates with a tubular projection 8 which projects from the base of the beaker 5 axially inwards into same and is executed with a point 9 at its free end.

This point can be produced by cutting the tube 8 at an angle or in some other suitable fashion. At the rim of the beaker 5 is another axially facing projection 10, preferably in the form of an arrow with barbs 11, and executed with a groove-like recess 12, the function of which is explained below.

The cap 5 of the shower device 2 is so arranged in its initial position as to enclose the seal 4 and at least a part of the neck 3. In the initial position the point 9 of the tubular projection 8 is very close to the seal 4 or is in contact with it. The tip of the arrow-shaped projection 10 is similarly situated close to a shoulder 13 on the neck 3 or is in contact with it. The cap is capable of axial displacement from the initial position to a working position in which the point 9 of the projection 8 has penetrated the seal 4 and the point of the projection 10 has penetrated the shoulder 13. The axial displacement from the unactivated position to the working position is best achieved by striking with the hand against the eye-cup 6, the opening of which is covered by a lid 14 when the eye shower is not in use. When in the working position the outlet orifice 7 communicates with the inside of the container 1. When the container 1 is inverted for the purpose of performing the washing operation, the washing fluid will flow out, in conjunction with which, as will be appreciated from Fig. 3, the washing fluid flows out in an even stream 15. Since there will then be a lower fluid pressure at the point at which the tip of the arrow 10 has penetrated the shoulder 13 on the neck 3, than at the outlet orifice 7, air will flow in and will replace the washing fluid which is flowing out, as shown by an arrow 16 in Fig. 3. The admission of the air is facilitated by the depression 12, which serves to increase the area of the opening.

The barbs 11 on the projection 10 serve the purpose of preventing the shower device 2 from being returned from the working position to the initial position. It is thus a simple matter to establish whether or not the eye shower has been used beforehand. In order to be sure that the shower fluid is entirely sterile, a new eye shower must always be prepared prior to every showering operation.

It is obvious that the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope of the idea of invention, especially with regard to the design of the projections 8 and 10, but also in respect of the design of the cap, which can be adapted to suit every conceivable form of the container 1.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Arrangement for an eye shower of the kind which comprises a bottle-like container (1) manufactured from a plastics material and filled at the time of its manufacture with a sterile washing fluid, the neck (3) of which container has at its outer end a seal (4) in which the material is thinner than in the rest of the container (1), and a shower device (2) so designed as to exhibit, once the seal has been broken, an outlet orifice (7) for washing fluid communicating with the inside of the container and an eye-cup (6) intended during showering of an eye to centralize the outlet orifice (7) relative to the eye and to hold the eye open, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the aforementioned shower device (2) is designed to enclose the seal (4) and a part of the neck (3) like a cap (5), and in that it is executed with two projections (8, 10) so arranged, when the shower device is displaced from an initial position towards a working position by striking with the hand, for example, against the eye-cup (6), as to penetrate the seal (4) and the container (8), in conjunction with which the projection (8) which penetrates the seal (4) is a pointed tube which provides a communication between the inside of the container (1) and the outlet orifice (7), and the second projection (10) is so arranged as to penetrate the container (1) at a point on the neck (3) at which, when the container (1) is inverted, a lower fluid pressure is present than at the outlet orifice (7).

2. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z ed in that the second projection (10) is executed with barb-like devices (11) so arranged as to prevent the showewr device (2) from leaving the working position.

3. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i zed in that the second projection (10) is executed with a groove-like depression (12) for the purpose of facilitating the admission of air into the container .(1) during eye showering.