GB2530256A

GB2530256A - Hand sanitisers

Info

Publication number: GB2530256A
Application number: GB1416255.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kate Whitmarsh; Robert Sayer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-15
Filing date: 2014-09-15
Publication date: 2016-03-23
Also published as: GB201416255D0

Abstract

A hand sanitising system comprises a wall-mountable housing (3, Fig 1) shaped with a recess (5, Fig 1) for receiving in use one or more user hands. The system also comprises a first nozzle 19 provided within the recess, a proximity sensor (11, Fig 3) located in or adjacent the recess for sensing the presence of a user's hand(s), a storage tank 13 located or locatable within the housing for holding anti-bacterial hand wash and a delivery system 15, 17 in communication with the storage tank and the nozzle, the delivery system being arranged in use to generate an atomised mist of the anti-bacterial hand wash in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user's hand(s), which mist is then delivered through the or each nozzle and into the recess.

Description

Hand Sanitizer

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hand sanitizers.

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Backaround of the Invention

In public toilets there is usually provided at least one soap dispenser, a basin with a tap for dispensing water for rinsing off the soap, and a hand dryer and/or towels.

The basin and tap assembly requires plumbing to deliver water, which is inconvenient and expensive, and requires routine maintenance. Providing plumbing in small spaces, such as the toilets of aircraft and trains is particularly inconvenient and the sink takes up space.

Further, traditional use of soap and water is not particularly efficient at preventing cross-contamination of bacteria and viruses. Even if soap is used, it is often rinsed off relatively quickly without fully killing germs. This leads to germs being deposited on surfaces such as door handles etc. which can be picked-up subsequently as people touch the handle.

Antibacterial hand sanitising sprays and gels are known, having advantages in terms of more effectively and quickly killing germs. However, they are typically provided in hand-spray or squeeze bottle form, meaning they can be easily lost or stolen, and a readily available supply is needed for replacement.

Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a hand sanitising system, comprising: a wall-mountable housing shaped with a recess for receiving in use one or more user hands; a first nozzle provided within the recess; a proximity sensor located in or adjacent the recess for sensing the presence of a user's hand(s); a storage tank located or locatable within the housing for holding anti-bacterial hand wash; and a delivery system arranged in use to generate an atomised mist of the anti-bacterial hand wash in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user's hand(s), which mist is then delivered through the or each nozzle and into the recess.

Thus there is a provided a system for sanitising hands that obviates the need for plumbing and a source of clean water. The mist permits users to clean their hands, removing bacteria, for example by rubbing them together, in a convenient manner. The system can be located in relatively small spaces. Any suitable antibacterial agent can be used.

The delivery system may be arranged to deliver the mist for a predetermined time period.

The delivery system may be arranged to deliver the mist until the proximity sensor senses that the hand(s) are removed from the recess.

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The system may further comprise a second nozzle provided on the housing, and a blower which blows air through the second nozzle to aid drying.

The second nozzle may be provided within the recess or can be positioned upstream of the first nozzle.

The blower may commence blowing air in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user(s) hands.

The blower may commence blowing after a predetermined time period in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user(s) hands.

The blower may commence blowing air in response to the proximity sensor sensing that the hand(s) are being moved upstream, out of the recess.

The blower may blow heated air.

One or both of the nozzles may be longitudinal or slot-shaped.

The or each nozzle may be a jetting nozzle.

The housing recess may be bowl or generally C-shaped in form.

The storage tank may hold antibacterial hand wash comprising alcohol, for example isopropyl alcohol. The delivery system may include a source of liquid carbon dioxide which is in use employed as a propellant to deliver the alcohol in the atomised mist. Such systems are sometimes referred to as NAV-CO2 systems, employing 58% isopropyl alcohol or thereabouts.

Alternatively, the storage tank may hold ozonated water.

The system may further comprise an exhaust for removing the mist, e.g. to remove excess.

The storage tank may be in the form of a removable and/or replaceable cartridge.

Brief Description of the Drawings

S The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand sanitising device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the Figure 1 device; Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing components of the Figure 1 device; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment device according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram showing components of the Figure 4 device.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment(s)

Referring to Figure 1, a wall-mountable hand sanitising device 1 is shown. The device 1 comprises a housing 3 formed of plastic or metal material, coated or treated with an antimicrobial substance. At the upper end is formed a recess or channel 5 for a user to insert their hands into in order to commence use of the device 1. The channel 5 is generally U-shaped, and oriented at an oblique angle for convenient operation. The channel 5 could instead be a bowl shape. In use, a user inserts their hands into an upper opening 7 of the channel 5.

In a rear wall of the channel 5 is arranged a slit or slot -like aperture which is an outlet jetting nozzle 9 through which an antibacterial agent is ejected in spray or mist form. At least one, or in this case two, proximity sensors 11 are provided upstream of the nozzle 9. In use, detection of a user inserting their hands by the proximity sensors 11 (which may be heat sensors, for example) is effective to cause the agent to be ejected through the nozzle 9 to effect sanitization.

Referring to the schematic view of Figure 2, within the housing 1 are arranged a storage tank 13, a pump or propellant 15, an atomiser (not shown) and a jetting nozzle 19, each in fluid communication in the series shown. An electronic control system (not shown) issues electrical signals to one or more of the components in order to issue the mist within the channel 5. The atomiser can be of any known form, whether a mechanical type located within the nozzle 19, or a chemical or electrical one.

Referring to Figure 3, the electronic components of the device 1 are shown. The components comprise a controller 21 connected to the proximity sensors 11, storage tank 13, pump or propellant 15 and atomiser (if electrical). The controller 21 is also connected to RAM for the temporary storage of data, and to memory 23 which stores on non-transitory media a control S program for operating the device 1. A power source 27 is connected to certain components.

The controller 21 can be a microprocessor, microcontroller, ASIC, FPGA or combination thereof. Plural controllers 21 can be employed.

The controller 1 operates under program control. Specifically, when a user's hands are detected by the proximity sensor 11, a signal received from the latter causes the pump or propellant 15 to be activated to send the antibacterial agent in the storage tank 13 to the atomiser and thereafter to eject it in mist form within the channel 5. The controller 1 can optionally monitor the storage tank 13 to determine the amount of agent present and to issue a warning signal in the event that the level is low or empty.

The controller 1 in use can issue the antibacterial mist for a predetermined time period, e.g. three seconds. Alternatively, the controller 1 can issue the mist until it is detected through the proximity sensor 11 that the user's hands have been removed.

The storage tank 13 can be permanently mounted and refilled through an access panel (not shown). Alternatively, the storage tank 13 can be a replaceable container of antibacterial agent.

Referring to Figure 4, in a second embodiment, a hand sanitising device 30 is near-identical with that shown in Figure 1, but in this case further comprises a blowerjetting nozzle 31 located upstream of that 9' which ejects the mist. Referring to Figure 5, a blower 33 is shown as part of the electronic system, and similar to other components, receives signals from the controller as part of the operating routine.

In use, when a user inserts their hands within the channel 5, the mist is issued as before through the lower nozzle 9'. After a certain time period, the blower 33 is activated which then blows a blade-like jet of air within the channel 5 to minimise the drying time. The air is preferably heated, but in the case where the antibacterial agent contains alcohol, the air is heated to a low temperature for safety reasons.

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In other embodiments, the blower nozzle 31 can be at the top or even outside of the channel 5.

The antibacterial agent used in either of the devices 1, 30 can be of any known form, including S alcohol-based agents using ethanol and Isopropyl alcohol. Regarding the latter, a known form of technology referred to as NAV-C02 employs 58% isopropyl alcohol which is propelled with heated liquid carbon dioxide to create a sanitising mist; this has the advantage that the alcohol becomes non-flammable when atomised, increasing safety.

Ozonated water is another form of antibacterial agent that could be used, in which case the need for the blower is greater and this can heat the air to higher temperatures.

Non-flammable hand sanitizer agents that could be employed include povidene-iodine, benzalkonium chloride and triclosan.

Further, either device 1, 30 could incorporate an exhausting system for removing any mist remaining after the user's hands are removed. In this case, when the proximity sensor 11 detects this condition, the exhausting system is activated for a brief, predetermined period.

The exhausting system could be of any known form, with an exhaust grille provided within the channel 5.

In summary, there is described a device 1, 30 capable of providing a complete hand sanitising solution in a compact and convenient form, requiring no external plumbing (the device is self-contained in this respect) or direct water supply. The device 1, 30 is particularly suited to public toilets, hospitals, aircraft and trains.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely illustrative and are not limiting on the scope of the invention. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application.

Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.

Claims

Claims 1. A hand sanitising system, comprising: a wall-mountable housing shaped with a recess for receiving in use one or more user S hands; a first nozzle provided within the recess; a proximity sensor located in or adjacent the recess for sensing the presence of a user's hand(s); a storage tank located or locatable within the housing for holding anti-bacterial hand wash; and a delivery system arranged in use to generate an atomised mist of the anti-bacterial hand wash in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user's hand(s), which mist is then delivered through the or each nozzle and into the recess.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the delivery system is arranged to deliver the mist for a predetermined time period.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the delivery system is arranged to deliver the mist until the proximity sensor senses that the hand(s) are removed from the recess.
4. A system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second nozzle provided on the housing, and a blower which blows air through the second nozzle to aid drying.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the second nozzle is provided within the recess.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the second nozzle is positioned upstream of the first nozzle.
7. A system according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the blower commences blowing air in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user(s) hands.
8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the blower commences blowing after a predetermined time period in response to the proximity sensor sensing a user(s) hands.
9. A system according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the blower commences blowing air in response to the proximity sensor sensing that the hand(s) are being moved upstream, out of the recess.
10. A system according to any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the blower blows heated air.
11. A system according to any of claims 4 to 10, wherein both of the nozzles are longitudinal or slot-shaped.
12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the or each nozzle is a jetting nozzle.
13. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the recess is bowl or generally C-shaped in form.
14. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the storage tank holds antibacterial hand wash comprising alcohol.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the antibacterial hand wash comprises Isopropyl alcohol.
16. A system according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the delivery system includes a source of liquid carbon dioxide which is in use employed as a propellant to deliver the alcohol in the atomised mist.
17. A system according to any of claims ito 13, wherein the storage tank holds ozonated water.
18. A system according to any preceding claim, further comprising an exhaust for removing the mist.