GB2488577A

GB2488577A - Storage and sanitation device for an absorbent cleaning material

Info

Publication number: GB2488577A
Application number: GB1103551.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rukshana Dudhia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-02
Filing date: 2011-03-02
Publication date: 2012-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-02
Also published as: GB2488577B; GB201103551D0

Abstract

A sanitiser unit 1 comprises a drainage surface 5 and a sanitising element 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. The sanitiser unit is adapted to receive an absorbent cleaning material 4, such as a sponge or dishcloth, between the drainage surface and the sanitising element and to squeeze the absorbent cleaning material between the drainage surface and the sanitising element. Preferably, the sanitising element comprises a container 14 which releases a sanitising agent 15, which can be in the form of liquid or gel. An actuator 17, such as a push-button, may release a dose of the sanitising agent. The sanitising agent may comprise a disinfectant and/or a fragrance. A drainage surface can be supported in a hollow base (2, Fig. 1) and the unit may further comprise a lid (3, Fig. 1) adapted to engage with the base. The base may comprise a reservoir (20, Fig. 4) for collecting moisture drained from the absorbent cleaning material.

Description

STORAGE MU) SAMTATION DEVICE

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for storing and sanitizing sponges andlor cleaning cloths.

Backgrp,nd to thçJpventio Dishcloths and sponges that are typically used domestically for cleaning surfaces and washing dishes provide breeding grounds for harmful bacteria such as campylobacter, E. coli, listeria, salmonella, staphylococci, and streptococci. Such cloths and sponges are often rubbed or soaked repeatedly in warm and dirty water containing traces of food matter and left for weeks or months without proper sterilisation, providing a haven for bacteria to thrive and multiply between the cloth fibres or inside the cells of the sponge foam. Such cloths and sponges are frequently used to wipe kitchen surfaces until free of visible dirt which are then assumed to be clean', despite the high risk that this process spreads bacteria, Thus, a visibly clean kitchen may be contaminated with high levels of harmful pathogens.

Despite great public concern over domestic hygiene, as evidenced by high sales of household cleaning and disinfecting products, little attention is paid to the hygiene of the cloths and sponges used for cleaning. Dishcloths may be laundered at high temperatures and sponges may be moistened and heated in a microwave oven, However, laundering a cloth at high temperature may be time consuming and energy intensive and microwaving a sponge may be hazardous due to the high temperature potentially reached by the sponge; both methods require active intervention by the user and are therefore easily overlooked. An alternative sterilising method is to leave the cloth or sponge soaked in bleach solution, which may make the sponge hazardous to handle and unpleasantly scented, as well as potentially posing a safety risk to pets and small children. It is therefore common for cloths and sponges to last for weeks or months without being properly cleaned and sterilised, and for bacteria to be spread as a result.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved means for storing and disinfccting absorbent cleaning materials, such as sponges and cloths (which are hereinafter intended to be covered by the term sponges'), by providing a sanitiser unit in which a sponge may be conveniently stored and provided with a sanitising agent, and which further provides a means of wringing excess water from the sponge and/or distributing the sanitising agent throughout the sponge by a squeezing action.

pmpypf the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sanitiser unit comprising a drainage surface and a sanitising element, wherein the sanitiser unit is adapted to receive an absorbent cleaning material between the drainage surface and the sanitising element and is operable to squeeze such an absorbent cleaning material between the surface and the sanitising element.

The sanitiser unit may comprise a hollow base in which the drainage surface is supported. The base may comprise a reservoir for collecting moisture drained from an absorbent cleaning material. Altematively, the base may comprise an opening for releasing moisture drained from an absorbent cleaning material. The opening may be defined by a perimeter of the base. The sanitiser unit may be adapted to support the drainage surface at a position upwardly spaced from an internal face of the reservoir. The sanitiser unit may be adapted to support the drainage surface at a position upwardly spaced from a surface on which the unit rests. The sanitiser unit may be adapted to support the drainage surface at one of a plurality of different positions. The sanitiser unit may be adapted to support the drainage surface inside the base. The base may comprise one or more supports adapted to receive the drainage surface. The drainage surface may comprise one or more projections adapted to support the drainage surface in the base. The drainage surface may comprise one or more projections substantially perpendicular to the drainage surface to support the drainage surface at a position upwardly spaced from a surface on which it rests. The drainage surface may comprise two or more projections substantially perpendicular to the drainage surface to support the drainage surface at two or more positions upwardly spaced at different heights from a surface on which it rests.

The reservoir may comprise a drainage spout. The base may provide a visible indication of the level of liquid present in the reservoir. The drainage surface may comprise a perforated plate, or may comprise a slotted plate, or may comprise a mesh, or may IS comprise a grille. The drainage surface may comprise one or more grooves, and may comprise a plurality of ridges.

The sanitising element may comprise a container for containing and releasing sanitising agent. The container may be integral to the sanitiser unit. The sanitising agent * * may comprise a saniti sing liquid or gel. The sanitising element may comprise a sanitising agent in the form of a soluble block. The sanitising clement may comprise a dispenser for propelling sanitising agent into an absorbent cleaning material. The dispenser may comprise a permeable element and a compressible element, the compressible element effective when compressed to propel the sanitising agent through the permeable element.

The permeable element may comprise a perforated plate, or may comprise a mesh, a grille, or a filter. The compressible element may comprise a foam pad soaked with sanitising agent and an impermeable plate adjacent thereto. The compressible element may comprise an actuator effective to release a dose of sanitising agent. The actuator may comprise a push-button or may comprise a twist-action element. The sanitising agent may comprise disinfectant. The sanitising agent may comprise fragrance. The sanitiser unit may comprise vents arranged to release fragrance from the unit.

The sanitiser unit may comprise a lid adapted to engage with the base. The lid may substantially cover the base. The lid may comprise the sanitising element, The lid may be arranged to support the sanitising element against the drainage surface, The lid may be arranged to support the sanitising element at a position spaced from the drainage surface. The lid may movably engage with the base. The lid may slidably engage with the base. The sanitiser unit may be arranged to position an absorbent cleaning material between the sanitising element and the drainage surface when the lid is engaged with the base and to squeeze the cleaning material when the lid is pressed. The lid and base may form a substantially cylindrical shape or may form a substantially euboidal shape. The base may have a downwardly flared shape.

DetaileclDescrjption of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a cross section of a sponge sanitiser according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2 (a)-{d) are a series of cross sections through the sponge sanitiser of Figure 1 showing a sequence of steps for sanitising a sponge; Figure 3 is a cross section of part of the sponge sanitiser of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross section of a sponge sanitiser according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross section of a sponge sanitiser according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross section of part of a sponge sanitiser according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a cross section of the part of Figure 6 in an alternate position.

Figure 8 is a cross section of a sponge sanitiser according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of a sponge sanitiser according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a cross section of the sponge sanitiser of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross section of a sponge sanitiser according to a further embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid raised.

Figure 12 is a cross section of the sponge sanitiser of Figure 11, showing the lid closed.

Figure 13 is a cross section of a sponge sanitiser according to a further embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid closed.

Figure 14 is a cross section of the sponge sanitiser of Figure 13, showing the lid opened.

Figure 1 shows a sponge sanitiser unit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and Figure 2 shows the sponge sanitiser in use. The sanitiser unit (1) has a base (2) and a lid (3) between which a sponge (4), dishcloth, or other absorbent cleaning material may be placed for storage and/or sanitisation. The base contains an integral plate (5) that forms a drainage surface. The plate is perforated by a plurality of holes or slots (6) permitting water to pass through. The plate is horizontally inclined when the base (2) rests on a level horizontal plane (7), and is spaced upwardly from this plane. Figure 3 shows a cross section through a suitable drainage surface plate (5), which has alternating ridges (8) and grooves (9) across its top surface and perforations (6) passing through the thickness of the plate to allow fluid passage.

The outer perimeter (10) of the underside of the base defines an opening (1 1) that allows moisture (12) draining through the drainage surface to freely exit the base when it is placed on a suitable drainage medium allowing fluid passage such as a draining board or dish drainer, This perimeter may be interrupted by side openings (13) in the base that allow moisture to flow away even when the base is situated on a flat non-absorbent surface such as a kitchen worktop.

On top of the base is a lid (3) adapted to slidably engage with the base. The lid and base are both substantially elliptical, both substantially circular, or both substantially rectangular when viewed from above, and conform to one another to slidably engage via a smooth push-fit to form a unit that substantially resembles a cylinder or an elliptical prism or a cuboid. The lid may be lifted to enable a user to place a sponge (4) into the base, and may be engaged with the base to form a substantially closed chamber in which the sponge iá contained. The lid contains an integral compartment (14) which forms a container for a sanitising agent (15). The sanitising agent may be bleach based, alcohol based, or any other suitable sanitising fluid or gel, and may be contained within a dispenser or may saturate a porous medium such as a compressible foam pad (16) inside the container. It is preferred that the sanitising agent may be non-toxic and safe to handle or may evaporate after application so that the sponge need not be rinsed after cleaning.

The lid has a push-button actuator (17) effective to partially depress the saturated foam pad (16) and thereby release a dose of the sanitising agent (15) through a plurality of distributed orifices (18) into the chamber below. Other actuated dispensers may be substituted, such as a perforated sachet of sanitiser gel, a pump-action gel or fluid dispenser, or an aerosol spray.

When the lid (3) is engaged with the base (2), a lower surface (19) of the lid's integral compartment is substantially parallel and opposed to the drainage surface (5) such that a sponge or dishcloth placed inside the chamber may be compressed between these two surfaces. Without a sponge or cloth present, when the lid is ftilly closed the two surfaces (5, 19) may come into directly opposing contact, or may be spaced a short di stance apart so as to come close to direct contact. Thus, pressing on the lid is effective to wring moisture from the sponge by compressing it between the two surfaces.

The orifices (18) are preferably distributed uniformly across an area corresponding to the approximate size and shape of a typical kitchen sponge or of a selected design of sponge. When the push-button actuator (17) is depressed, the dose of sanitising agent released through the distributed orifices, or into a cavity from where it may drain through the orifices, should therefore penetrate the sponge (4) with a good

S

degree of uniformity. A partial dose or multiple doses may be applied by partial or repeated actuation. During or after releasing the dose of sanitising agent, the user may compress the sponge by pressing the lid again, preferably several more times. This action helps to permeate the sanitising agent more thoroughly and uniformly into and throughout the sponge, aiding the sanitisation process.

Figure 4 shows an alternative design of sponge sanitiser unit according to another preferred embodiment of the invention. The sanitiser unit has a similar overall design and function to the embodiment described above, but with some notable differences as follows. It is to be understood that features of both embodiments are interchangeable to provide many design permutations. In contrast to the previously described embodiment, the sanitiser unit (1) has a base (2) with a closed underside forming a reservoir (20) that collects any moisture drained from the sponge. This prevents puddles from forming around the unit and allows the sponge (4) to be soaked in a solution of the sanitising agent (15) if desired. In embodiments where soaking the sponge is desired, the sanitising agent may be a soluble block in either direct opposing contact, or immersed and in fluid contact, with the sponge. The base may have a spout (21) for draining the water or solution, or it may be emptied through the perforations (6) in the drainage surface (5).

Such a spout may be a low side opening, as illustrated, to prevent the sponge from becoming saturated, or may span the height of the base allowing it to be filled with solution. The spout (2t) or the base (2) may be transparent or semi-opaque, or may comprise an indicator such as a window or a float, to provide an indication of the water level inside the base or to warn the user when it requires emptying. In some embodiments, the drainage surface is not integral to the base, but rather is attachable to the base iii two or more possible positions (22). Alternatively, there is a first drainage surface (5) integral to the base and a second attachable drainage surface (23) which may be placed over and upwardly spaced from the first (5) to accommodate a thinner sponge or to provide a more forceful sponge compression if desired, for example as may arise when using different types of absorbent cleaning material, such as a soft sponge versus a dishcloth that may have a lesser thickness and require a greater wringing force. Such attachable drainage surfaces may be attached at clips or support lugs (24) or rims (27), or may have integral support legs or frames to stand freely inside the base. The attachable drainage surface may be similar to that shown in Figure 3. The sanitising agent (15) includes fragrance which is released to the surrounding air through vents (25) in the lid or the base, The fragrance provides a pleasant scent and also informs the user by its presence or absence whether the sanitising agent is used up and needs replacement.

A ftrther embodiment is shown in Figure 5, which has a bulbous or flared base (26) forming a reservoir for collecting water drained from the sponge. The widened base also adds stability.

In another embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the drainage surface has a longer projection (30) and a shorter projection (31) extending substantially vertically from the horizontal drainage surface (32). The projections may be sparsely located around the periphery of the drainage surface or may comprise sidewalls running along two or more edges of the drainage surface, or a sidewall fully enclosing the drainage surface. The projections have rims, support lugs (33) or snap-fit lugs that support the drainage surface on the base (2) at a rim (34), support lugs or via a corresponding snap-fit arrangement. By lifting or un-clipping the drainage surface from the base, the drainage surface may be inverted and returned to the base, the differing sidewall heights (a, b) providing a change in the position of the drainage surface to accommodate a larger or smaller sponge or dishcloth or to provide a greater or lesser squeezing force when the lid is fully closed.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, the projections may be legs or sidewalls that simply rest upon the upward-facing surface at the bottom of the reservoir, In yet anothei embodiment, the base itself comprises an integral drainage surface and sidewalls projecting by different upward and downward lengths from the drainage surface, as shown in Figure 1, so that the base may simply be inverted to accommodate a different sized sponge or cloth or to impart greater or lesser squeezing force thereto.

In further embodiments, the sanitising unit comprises a push-button actuated liquid dispenser pump and a reservoir of sanitising fluid or gel. Upon actuation of the dispenser pump, a dose of the fluid is pumped into a cavity in the lid. The lid cavity is perforated by holes that allow the liquid to discharge into the sponge or cloth to be sanitised.

In one such embodiment, shown in Figure 8, the sanitising fluid reservoir (40) and dispenser pump (41) are situated in the lid (3). The lid has a substantially parallel-sided or prismatic portion (42) that conforms closely to a corresponding parallel-sided or prismatic portion (43) of the base (2). This allows the lid to slidably engage with the base across a range of positions so that the lid may be closed over a range of different sponge or cloth thicknesses, permitting squeezing of different sponges or cloths without any modification to the sanitising unit.

In another such embodiment, shown in Figures 9 and 10, the parallel-sided or prismatic portion of the lid is a skirt (44) that seals the lid (3) against a close-fitting upstand (45) of the base (2) across a range of sponge/cloth thicknesses. The fluid reservoir (40) and dispenser (41) form part of a separate cartridge unit (46) which is a removable part of the lid. It may be removed and replaced with a replacement cartridge, or may be refilled with sanitising fluid. Removal of the cartridge provides access to the lid cavity (47) for cleaning, as shown in Figure 9.

In yet another such embodiment, shown in Figures 11 and 12, the dispenser has a liquid reservoir (40), a pump (4 Ia), and a push-button actuator (41b) with a nozzle (41 c).

The reservoir and pump are located in the base, while the actuator nozzle is located in the lid and is arranged to engage with the pump when the lid is closed. While the lid is closed, depression of the push-button actuator is effective to pump a dose of sanitising 10. liquid out from the liquid reservoir, through the nozzle, and into the perforated lid cavity (47) where it discharges into a sponge or cloth.

In another such embodiment, shown in Figures 13 and 14, the liquid reservoir (40) and pump dispenser (41) form part of a separate container (48) which is attachable to the base (2) and/or to the lid (3). The dispenser has a nozzle (41c) that, upon actuation of the push-button actuator (41 b), deposits sanitising liquid or gel into the perforated lid cavity where it discharges into a sponge or cloth. Removal of the separate container from the lid and/or base facilitates replacement or refilling of the container and cleaning of the insides of the lid cavity (47) and base.

In certain preferred embodiments, the base and lid are made of a dishwasher safe material and are smoothly contoured with accessible internal cavities to facilitate cleaning the sanitiser unit in a dishwasher. In this case, the sanitising agent should he removable from the lid prior to cleaning. Alternatively, the base may be dishwasher safe and the lid may be wipe-clean only. In another embodiment, the whole unit may be provided as a disposable item to be discarded once the sanitising agent has been used up.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appcnded claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sanitiser unit comprising a drainage surface and a sanitising element, wherein the sanitiser unit is adapted to receive an absorbent cleaning material between the drainage surface and the sanitising element and is operable to squeeze such an absorbent cleaning material between the surface and the sanitising element.
2, A sanitiser unit according to claim I comprising a hollow base in which the drainage surface is supported.
3. A sanitiser unit according to claim 2 comprising a lid adapted to engage with the base.
4. A sanitiser unit according to claim 3 wherein the lid substantially covers the base.
5. A sanitiser unit according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the lid comprises the sanitising element.
6. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the lid movably engages with the base.
7. A sanitiser unit according to claim 6 wherein the lid slidably engages with the base.
8. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 3 to 7 arranged to position an absorbent cleaning material between the sanitising element and the drainage surface when the lid is engaged with the base and to squeeze the cleaning material when the lid is pressed.
9. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the base comprises an opening for releasing moisture drained from an absorbent cleaning material.
10. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein the base comprises a reservoir for collecting moisture drained from an absorbent cleaning material.
11. A sanitiser unit according to claim 10 wherein the base provides a visible indication of the level of liquid present in the reservoir.
12. A sanitiser unit according to claim 10 or 11 adapted to support the drainage surface at a position upwardly spaced from an internal face of the reservoir.
13. A sanitiser unit according to claim 9 wherein the opening is defined by a perimeter of the base.
14, A sanitiser unit according to any preceding claim adapted to support the drainage surface at a position upwardly spaced from a surface on which the unit rests.
15. A sanitiser unit according to any preceding claim adapted to support the drainage surface at one of a plurality of different positions.
16. A sanitiser unit according to any preceding claim wherein the drainage surface comprises two or more projections substantially perpendicular to the drainage S surface to support the drainage surface at two or more positions upwardly spaced at different heights from a surface on which it rests.
17. A sanitiser unit according to any preceding claim wherein the sanitising element comprises a container for containing and releasing sanitising agent.
18. A sanitiser unit according to claim 17 wherein the container is integral to the sanitiser unit.
19. A sanitiser unit according to claim 17 or 18 wherein the sanitising agent comprises a sanitising liquid or gel.
20. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the sanitising element comprises a dispenser for propelling sanitising agent into an absorbent cleaning material.
21. A sanitiser unit according to claim 20 wherein the dispenser comprises a * permeable element and a compressible element, the compressible element effective when compressed to propel the sanitising agent through the permeable element.
22. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 17 to 21 comprising an actuator effective to release a dose of the sanitising agent.
23. A sanitiser unit according to claim 22 wherein the actuator comprises a push-button.
24. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 17 to 23 wherein the sanitising agent comprises disinfectant.
25. A sanitiser unit according to any one of claims 17 to 24 wherein the sanitising agent comprises fragrance.
26. A sanitiser unit according to claim 25 comprising vents arranged to release fragrance from the unit.
27. A sanitiser unit substantially as herein described with reference to the appended figures.