GB2557598A

GB2557598A - Hand sanitizer

Info

Publication number: GB2557598A
Application number: GB1620993.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lafe Orobola; Angelides Suzanne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-12-09
Filing date: 2016-12-09
Publication date: 2018-06-27
Also published as: GB201620993D0

Abstract

A hand sanitising apparatus comprises a vessel for receiving a hand sanitising liquid, the vessel being adapted in use to be placed on a horizontal surface and comprising a base 12 and a lid 14, a cover 30 for mounting over the lid, and a roller 16 supported by a vessel and having a lower portion of the roller projecting into the vessel and an upper protion of the roller projecting above the lid.. Preferably, the roller is a cylinder. Preferably, the vessel is opaque and formed from an antibacterial plastic. Preferably, a liquid level indicator 20 is included in the base of the apparatus. The lid may comprise a slot 18 which is narrower in width than the diameter of the roller. The cover may have a non-slip outer surface. The liquid used with the sanitizer is, preferably, water based and may be water-diluted hypochlorous acid. The sanitizing liquid may have a viscosity of between 0.9 and 1.1. mPa.s at 20 degC.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

(56) Documents Cited:

GB 2439061 A CN 002617307 Y

CA 002483831 A1 US 20140334975 A1

Orobola Lafe

Unit 18 The Bell Centre, Newton Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9FZ, United Kingdom (58) Field of Search:

INT CL A61L Other: EPODOC, WPI

Suzanne Angelides

Unit 18 The Bell Centre, Newton Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9FZ, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Orobola Lafe Suzanne Angelides (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Elkington and Fife LLP

Prospect House, 8 Pembroke Road, SEVENOAKS, Kent, TN13 1XR, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Hand sanitizer

Abstract Title: Hand sanitising apparatus comprising vessel for receiving a liquid, a cover, and a roller (57) A hand sanitising apparatus comprises a vessel for receiving a hand sanitising liquid, the vessel being adapted in use to be placed on a horizontal surface and comprising a base 12 and a lid 14, a cover 30 for mounting over the lid, and a roller 16 supported by a vessel and having a lower portion of the roller projecting into the vessel and an upper protion of the roller projecting above the lid.. Preferably, the roller is a cylinder. Preferably, the vessel is opaque and formed from an antibacterial plastic. Preferably, a liquid level indicator 20 is included in the base of the apparatus. The lid may comprise a slot 18 which is narrower in width than the diameter of the roller. The cover may have a non-slip outer surface. The liquid used with the sanitizer is, preferably, water based and may be waterdiluted hypochlorous acid. The sanitizing liquid may have a viscosity of between 0.9 and 1.1. mPa.s at 20 degC.

This print incorporates corrections made under Section 117(1) of the Patents Act 1977.

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Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No. GB1620993.4

RTM

Date :8 March 2017

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

Aquaint

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

HAND SANITIZER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hand sanitizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sanitizing hand gels and wipes are becoming increasingly popular. Hand gel dispensers are widely used at the entrances to hospital wards and increasing numbers of people use hand wipes and gels for their own personal use, when they risk encountering bacteria during the day.

Most sanitizing products are alcohol based products. These are generally scented to mask the natural scent but this scent is often not desired by users. The gels may also leave the skin feeling dry.

An alternative sanitizing product which is now gaining in popularity is a water-based product with the trade name Aquaint. It is a 100% natural sanitizer water that kills 99.9% of bacteria in seconds. It can be used as a cleanser, and its only other ingredient is the natural acid hypochlorous acid which is produced in the human body to fight bacteria and germs.

This product can be sprayed or poured, and it has the same viscosity as water.

It would be desirable to be able to apply this, or other sanitizing products, to the hands in a quick and efficient way, which does not disturb the everyday activities of a user. For example, in some workplaces, a person will come into frequent contact with potentially bacteria-laden items (papers, bank notes, credit or payment cards, or other objects). To reduce the spread of bacteria it then becomes desirable to sanitize the hands frequently.

It would also be desirable to enable a hand sanitizing procedure with one hand. The use of a spray or gel or wipe generally requires both hands to be used, for example one hand to hold the container and the other to catch the sanitizing product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the claims.

According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand sanitizing apparatus, comprising:

a vessel for receiving a hand sanitizing liquid, the vessel being adapted in use to be placed on a horizontal surface and comprising a base and a lid;

a cover for mounting over the lid; and a roller supported by the vessel and having a lower portion of the roller projecting into the vessel and an upper portion of the roller projecting above the lid.

This apparatus is intended to sit on a horizontal surface, such as a table, desk or counter. The roller provides a surface against which the hand can be rolled, in particular the finger tips. This means the apparatus can be used with one hand by simply wiping the fingers over the apparatus. Rotation of the roller brings the sanitizing liquid from the vessel up to the surface where it wets the hand of the user. When the vessel is empty (by which is meant the liquid level is below the bottom of the roller projecting into the vessel), it can simply be topped up. The cover protects the contents the vessel when not in use, but it can also be used as a support and drip tray when placed underneath the vessel.

The apparatus provides a far more convenient hand sanitizing solution than wipes or bottles. Furthermore, there is less waste, since the vessel can be reused and cleaned, and can be replenished from a much larger source of the sanitizing liquid.

The roller may comprise a cylinder. It may have a length (along the cylinder axis) corresponding to approximately to the width of a typical hand. For example the roller may be between 8 cm and 16 cm long. A single pass may then wet all the fingers. A smaller roller is an option for a compact design, and the user will for example rub their hands together to provide a full covering.

The vessel is preferably opaque. This prevents photo-activated decay of the sanitizing liquid. The vessel is for example formed from antibacterial plastic.

The apparatus may further comprise a liquid level indicator. This may be used to indicate a maximum fill level and also indicate when the level is below a minimum. This may also be apparent in any case, as the roller will remain dry when rolled.

The lid of the vessel for example comprises a slot which is the same width, slightly wider than or narrower than the width of the roller. If the slot is narrower than the width of the roller, the lid traps the roller in the vessel, but it allows a portion to project above the lid. The roller may be held by the vessel engaging with an axle of the roller. If the slot is the same width (or just a small amount larger), half of the roller can be above the lid and half can be below. If the slot is wider than the lid, there will be a gap for example for filling without removing the lid.

As hinted above, the cover may be adapted to be positioned selectively:

over the lid, thereby to cover the upper portion of the roller for storage or transportation of the apparatus; or beneath the vessel, thereby to function as a drip catching tray.

In this way, the cover prevents or reduces spillage onto the horizontal surface and also performs a separate storage or transportation function. The cover may have a non-slip outer surface so that when it is used as a drip tray, it also helps to hold the apparatus stationary on the horizontal surface.

The invention also provides a hand sanitizing system, comprising: an apparatus as defined above; and a quantity of the sanitizing liquid.

The sanitizing liquid preferably comprises a water-based liquid. This is an advantage because the low viscosity enables the liquid to be transferred by a roller, which is not reliably possible for an alcohol gel type sanitizing liquid.

The sanitizing liquid for example has a dynamic viscosity of between 0.9 and 1.1 mPa.s at 20 degrees Celsius. This corresponds to water.

The sanitizing liquid may comprise water-diluted hypochlorous acid. This provides an environmentally friendly natural solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in simplified schematic form a hand sanitizing apparatus;

Figure 2 shows a cut away side view;

Figure 3 shows a plan view with the lid removed;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the lid;

Figure 5 shows a design with an additional cover fitted beneath the vessel; and

Figure 6 shows the design of Figure 5 but with the cover provided over the top of the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides a hand sanitizing apparatus using a roller to transfer hand sanitizing liquid from a stationary vessel beneath to a projecting part of the roller. This enables simple hand sanitizing with only one hand, it is easy, quick and convenient to use, and it avoids cross contamination between the hand and the apparatus housing which is unavoidable with a spray bottle for example.

Figure 1 shows in simplified schematic form a hand sanitizing apparatus 10 comprising a vessel for receiving a hand sanitizing liquid. The vessel has a base 12 and a lid 14. The vessel is for placing on a table or other horizontal surface. There is a roller 16 partially within the vessel and partially projecting outside the vessel, through an opening 18 in the lid.

The opening 18 is in the form of a slot which is narrower than the width of the roller 16. In this way, the lid traps the roller in the vessel, but it allows a portion to project above the lid.

In use, the hand or just the fingers are rolled over the roller 16. The bottom of the roller projects into a sanitizing liquid so when rolled, it picks up liquid on the surface and brings it to the top. The apparatus can be used with one hand by simply wiping the fingers over the apparatus. When the vessel is empty (by which is meant the liquid level is below the bottom of the roller projecting into the vessel), it can simply be topped up by removing the lid 14. The lid may either carry with it the roller, or it may leave the roller behind. Alternatively, a separate opening for refilling may be provided.

The roller may be a hard plastic, so that all liquid is carried on the surface. It may however have an absorbent surface so that it soaks up liquid which can then be released for example by applied pressure.

The vessel can thus be re-used and also cleaned, and can be replenished from a much larger source of the sanitizing liquid.

The roller comprises a cylinder with a length based on the width of the hand, for example between 8 cm and 16 cm long.

Figure 1 shows a level indicator 20 formed in the outer wall of the vessel, for indicating a maximum and/or minimum fill level. The vessel is otherwise opaque. This is of particular interest if the sanitizing liquid may suffer light-induced decay. The vessel is for example formed from opaque antibacterial plastic.

Figure 2 shows a cut away side view. The roller has an axle, with a disc 22 at each end. The discs 22 sit in channels 24 defined by the base 12 of the vessel. The roller 16 is thus trapped by the engagement of the discs 22 and channels 24 and the slot in the lid.

The lid also has lips 15 which are used to block more of the light from entering the vessel from the gap between the roller 16 and the slot 18. These may also be used to couple the roller and lid together so that the lid carries the roller with it, which may then be a push fit into the lips 15. The lips may curve to follow the edge of the roller with a spacing, so that almost all light (in straight paths) is blocked. Alternatively, they may extend straight down past the sides of the roller.

The bottom of the roller sits in the sanitizing liquid 26. A minimum fill level is thus at the level of the bottom of the roller and a top fill level is when the base is completely full.

This design has few parts, and provides a simple frictional bearing between the discs 22 and channels 24. Of course, other rotational couplings may be used. The roller may for example be fixed in place to the base when the lid is removed.

Figure 3 shows a plan view with the lid removed. It shows that the channel 24 is a slot into which the discs 22 sit.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the lid.

The apparatus may further comprise a cover (additional to the lid), as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5 shows the cover 30 beneath the vessel, i.e. covering the bottom of the vessel. It functions as a drip catching tray. It clips to the vessel by clips 32.

The cover 30 can instead be provided over the top of the lid as shown in Figure 6. It then covers the exposed portion of the roller for storage or transportation of the apparatus. The cover has a non-slip outer surface so that when it is used as a drip tray as in Figure 5, it also helps to hold the apparatus stationary on the horizontal surface.

The slot 18 is narrower than the roller in the example above, so that the roller is trapped in the vessel by the lid 14 with less than half projecting above the lid. The slot may be wider for example so that half of the roller projects above the lid, or so that filling can easily take place without removing the lid 14. The roller may still in all cases be trapped in place by the ends of its axle, which may be held down by the lid 14. Thus, the lid does not need to perform the function of holding the roller itself.

The sanitizing liquid 26 is preferably a water-based liquid. It has sufficiently low viscosity that it can be transported by the roller. It also means it can be un-scented. The sanitizing liquid for example has a dynamic viscosity of between 0.9 and 1.1 mPa.s at 20 degrees Celsius. This corresponds to water.

The sanitizing liquid preferably comprises water-diluted hypochlorous acid. This provides an environmentally friendly natural and low cost sanitizing solution. The vessel may be refilled from larger (e.g. 1L) vessels so reducing the amount of waste.

As mention above, some sanitizing liquids may degrade in response to light, such as hypochlorous acid. Furthermore, the sanitizing effectiveness may also degrade over time. The apparatus may further include test strips for testing the acid level, such as potassium iodide starch strips. These may be used periodically to test the liquid. They may for example be applied to the roller, or to a recess provided on the surface of the roller for this purpose.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hand sanitizing apparatus, comprising:

a vessel for receiving a hand sanitizing liquid, the vessel being adapted in use to be placed on a horizontal surface and comprising a base (12) and a lid (14);

a cover for mounting over the lid; and a roller (16) supported by the vessel and having a lower portion of the roller projecting into the vessel and an upper portion of the roller projecting above the lid.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller (16) comprises a cylinder.

3. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vessel (12, 14) is opaque.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vessel (12, 14) is formed from antibacterial plastic.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a liquid level indicator (20).

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid (14) of the vessel comprises a slot (18) which is narrower than the width of the roller (16).

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover is adapted to be positioned selectively:

over the lid (14), thereby to cover the upper portion of the roller for storage or transportation of the apparatus; or beneath the base (12) of the vessel, thereby to function as a drip catching tray.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover (30) has a nonslip outer surface (34).

5

9. A hand sanitizing system, comprising:

an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim; and a quantity of the sanitizing liquid (26).

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sanitizing liquid (26)

10 comprises a water-based liquid.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sanitizing liquid (26) has a dynamic viscosity of between 0.9 and 1.1 mPa.s at 20 degrees Celsius.

15

12. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sanitizing liquid (26) comprises water-diluted hypochlorous acid.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB 1620993.4 1-12