GB2563124A

GB2563124A - Soap dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2563124A
Application number: GB1805045.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lymn Edward
Original assignee: Rapid Washrooms Ltd
Current assignee: Rapid Washrooms Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-31
Filing date: 2018-03-28
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-28
Also published as: GB201705198D0; GB201805045D0; GB2563124B

Abstract

A soap dispenser (1, Fig 1) comprising a source of liquid soap (17, Fig 2), a pump for pumping the soap (14, Fig 2), a spout (7m Fig 2) from which the pumped soap is dispensed; and means 34 for irradiating the pumped soap for its sterilisation at least periodically on pump operation for soap dispensing. Preferably pumps 14,15, pump liquid soap from a reservoir 17 and air under compression to the dispenser on hands detection. Within the head, there is a Y-shaped piece 18, which is removable from an intermediate part 19, the Y piece having a male spigot 20 with an 0-ring seal 21 received in a female socket 22 of the intermediate part. Together these two parts define internally a mixing chamber 23. The pumps pump to inlets 25,26 feeding soap and air into a mixing chamber. Preferably biocidal material mesh discs 27, 30 are arranged up- and down-stream of the mixing chamber. Preferably, the means for irradiating the pumped soap is an ultraviolet light emitting diode 34, which may be mounted above the PIR detector for sterilizing the soap in the mixing chamber.

Description

SOAP DISPENSER

The present invention relates to a soap dispenser.

It is known to pump liquid soap and air to a soap dispenser having a mixing chamber and a foam assisting mesh to form soap foam. If the flow is small, it is possible for the contents of a chamber for mixing the soap and air not to be flushed through on each dispensing operation. We have noted that this can result in a buildup of deposit in the mixing chamber and in particular on meshes provided at the inlet to and outlet from the mixing chamber. It is believed that this build-up is usually formed of mucous exudate from bacterial infection of the soap, either from the liquid soap with which the dispenser is supplied or from air at an outlet from the dispenser or from foaming air or indeed from infection dating to prior to installation of the dispenser.

These deposits can result in soap dispensers being unreliable, failure to cleanse a user’s hands and even possibly causing washed hands to be infected by the process of washing.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved soap dispenser.

According to the invention there is provided a soap dispenser, comprising:

• a source of liquid soap;

• a pump for pumping the soap;

• a spout from which the pumped soap is dispensed; and • means for irradiating the pumped soap for its sterilisation at least periodically on pump operation for soap dispensing.

The irradiation means may be powered continuously. Alternatively, it can be operated with the pump or once for each of a plurality of pump actions. Normally the irradiation means will be of low power such that its powering for longer than the pump operation is advisable to ensure sterilisation.

Whilst the pump can be a traditional manually operated pump, in which case continuous irradiation up-stream of the pump can be employed or a switch can be provided to detect pumping and powering of the irradiation means; normally the soap dispenser will be of the type having a hands presence detector controlling operation of the pump, in which case powering of the irradiation means can be under the same control.

In other words, such soap dispensers preferably include:

• means for detecting presence of hands at the spout;

• a controller for switching on the pump on detection of hands being present at the spout; and • means under control of the controller for irradiating the pumped soap for its sterilisation at least periodically on hands detection.

Preferably the irradiation means is a UV emitter, conveniently a UV LED. Normally it will be installed adjacent to a tube from the soap pump to the spout and/or a mixing chamber at which the soap and air are mixed to form soap foam, for irradiating the soap via a wall of the tube or mixing chamber. Alternatively they can be set in the wall of the tube or mixing chamber.

Normally the spout will be fitted to the distal end of a stem extending in use from a wall or panel, typically a so-called splashback. Whilst the UV irradiation means could be remote from the spout behind the wall or panel, preferably it is within in the stem, whereby the possibility of infection of soap between the irradiation means and the spout is diminished. In any event, the irradiation means is preferably downstream of the pump.

More than one UV LED can be provided in the stem, whereby at least an extent of soap in the tube between the pump and the spout corresponding to one dispensing action can be irradiated, the tube being transparent or translucent to UV radiation. Where the LED(s) are arranged to irradiate the tube, they are preferably at the end of the tube adjacent the spout.

The spout and/or a piece forming part of a soap passage between the tube and the spout can be transparent or translucent to UV radiation with the LED(s) or one of them adjacent thereto. Where the soap is dispensed as a foam and is mixed with air at the spout, the LED(s) or one of them can be adjacent to a chamber for mixing the soap and air.

It is envisaged that where the soap passage between the tube and the spout is tortuous or otherwise has regions of stagnation, or indeed even where the passage is not tortuous, the passage or part of it may be of a biocidal material, either plastic with biocidal additives or metal or plated with such metal such as copper and silver.

In one embodiment, there is provided:

• a source of liquid soap, • a source of compressed air, · a chamber for mixing soap and air, on supply thereof from the sources, for making soap foam, • an outlet of soap foam from the mixing chamber and • means for irradiating the soap in the mixing chamber with ultraviolet light.

The irradiation means is preferably an LED emitting in the ultra violet range.

It can be arranged externally of the mixing chamber, irradiating it via a wall; alternatively it can be arranged in a wall for more direct irradiation.

In the preferred embodiment, the LED is mounted above a hands-presence detector, and control circuitry is provided for activating the UV LED with pumps for the air and the soap.

The mixing chamber can be permanently closed, save for soap and air inlets and the soap foam outlet. The chamber can be two or three part, with a male / female interface having an O-ring seal. This arrangement enables disassembly of the mixing chamber for its cleaning. The chamber is preferably constructed of biocidal materials, either plastic with biocidal additives or metal or plated with such metal such as copper and silver.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a soap dispenser installed at a wash hand basin;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a soap and air supply to the soap dispenser;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the sterilisation features in the soap dispenser in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of mouldings shown diagrammatically in Figure

3; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 3 of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a soap dispenser 1 of the type projecting from a splash back 2 behind a wash hand basin 3, typically with a mixer tap 4, is shown. Externally, the dispenser has a metal or at least metallised stem 5 and head 6 with a downwards projecting soap delivery spout 7. Though not normally visible to the user, the head has an aperture 8 underneath for a PIR hands-presence detector 9 having an output line 10, to cause soap to be dispensed to hands (not shown) placed beneath the spout. In all these respects the soap dispenser is conventional.

Also as conventionally the stem accommodates soap and air feed lines 11,12 from respective pumps 14,15, mounted behind the splash back with a control circuit 16, to which the detector line 10 extends. The pumps pump liquid soap from a reservoir 17 and air under compression to the dispenser on hands detection, the detector being connected to the control circuit. Within the head, there is a Y piece 18, which in accordance with a feature of the invention, is removable from an intermediate part 19, the Y piece having a male spigot 20 with an O-ring seal 21 received in a female socket 22 of the intermediate part. Together these two parts define internally a mixing chamber 23. A clip 24 holds the two parts together against air pressure in the mixing chamber during soap dispensing.

The lines 11,12 are connected at inlets 25,26 feeding the soap into a mixing chamber. A mesh disc 27, is captivated in the mixing chamber at an inner end of the Y-piece, at a tapering-in region 28 of the intermediate part. Beyond the taper, this part has a down-turn 29 into O-ring sealing engagement with a socket 30 in a carrier moulding 31. A second wire mesh 32 is captive between the end of the down-turn and a bottom of the socket. An outlet nozzle 33 is fitted to the carrier moulding as an axial extension of the delivery spout 7. The carrier also carries the PIR detector 9.

It should be noted that the conventional mesh to use is stainless steel or plastics mesh, which is not biocidal by being not copper rich, i.e, brass or bronze, mesh or other mesh. Mesh of biocidal material is used in this embodiment, namely steel or bronze mesh for the mesh discs 27 and 32.

In accordance with the invention, an ultraviolet light emitting diode 34 is mounted above the PIR detector at the tapering-in region 28 of the intermediate part. The intermediate part 19 is of UV transparent or at least translucent material, as advantageously is the Y piece 18. The UV LED is wired to the control circuit 16 and powered with and for longer than the pumps. UV light enters the mixing chamber and permeates those areas where the liquid soap tends not to be fully expelled by the pressurised air on each foam production, such as the rims of the meshes. Here stagnation of the soap on the stainless mesh can lead to infection by airborne bacteria permeating from the spout or carried in with the pressure air for foaming, with the result of a user’s hands being infected as opposed to being cleaned on hand washing.

The UV irradiation has the effect of denaturing such bacteria and mitigating against such infection, whether the bacteria are present in the soap reservoir or permeate in from the spout or elsewhere. It is anticipated that provided the irradiation is strong enough for long enough, the bulk of the soap foam will be sterilized. That which might stagnate on the wire mesh (a habitual place for bacterial mucous exudate to collect) is sterilized by the biocide effect of the copper.

Turning now to Figure 5, an alternative soap sterilization arrangement is shown with a soap dispenser 101 having a stainless steel stem 105 and head 106 with a downwards projecting soap delivery spout 107. Soap line 111 extends through the stem to an internal, down-turn moulding 129 moulded of polymer with a copper rich filling. The soap line is of UV permeable tube and is clipped 150 to an LED carrying moulding 151 housed within the stem. It carries three UV LEDs 133 directing radiation when powered towards the tube. They are spaced to irradiate at least 25mm of the tube, a typical length of a slug of soap liquid corresponding to the amount dispensed on each hand washing.

The LEDs sterilize the soap liquid against any infection present in the soap reservoir, not shown. The copper of the down-turn moulding sterilizes any stagnant soap possibly infected by airborne bacteria entering the spout and the down-turn moulding.

As shown the soap dispenser 101 does not have a pressure air supply nor a foam mixing chamber as that of Figures 1 to 4. However, it could be modified to have these.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, in place of copper filler in the down-turn moulding, anti-microbial additives can be incorporated in its polymer. Further the meshes can be rendered biocidal other than being copper rich, for instance be silver plating.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A soap dispenser, comprising:

• a source of liquid soap;

• a pump for pumping the soap;

2. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the irradiation means is adapted to be powered continuously.

3. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the irradiation means is adapted to be operated with the pump or once for each of a plurality of pump actions.

4. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the irradiation means is adapted to be operated for longer than the pump operation.

5. A soap dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the irradiation means is a UV emitter, conveniently at least one UV LED.

6. A soap dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump is a manually operated pump and • the irradiation means is arranged up-stream of the pump and adapted to be powered continuously in which case continuous irradiation up-stream of the pump can be employed or • a switch is provided to detect pumping and powering of the irradiation means.

7. A soap dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the soap dispenser has a hands presence detector for controlling operation of the pump and powering of the irradiation means under the same control.

8. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 7, the irradiation means is downstream of the pump.

9. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the irradiation means is remote from the spout.

10. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 7, claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the irradiation means is installed adjacent to a tube from the soap pump to the spout and/or a mixing chamber at which the soap and air are mixed to form soap foam, for irradiating the soap via a wall of the tube or the mixing chamber.

11. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 7, claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the irradiation means is set in the wall of the tube or mixing chamber.

12. A soap dispenser as claimed in any one of claim 7 to 11, wherein the spout is fitted to the distal end of a stem and the irradiation means is in the stem.

13. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 12, wherein the irradiation means is distributed along the stem, preferably in the form of a plurality of UV LEDs, whereby at least an extent of soap in the tube between the pump and the spout corresponding to one dispensing action can be irradiated, preferably at the end of the tube adjacent the spout.

14. A soap dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the spout and/or a piece forming part of a soap passage between the pump and the spout are transparent or translucent to UV radiation with the irradiation means adjacent thereto.

15. A soap dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the soap is dispensed as a foam and is mixed with air at the spout, the irradiation means is adjacent to a chamber for mixing the soap and air.

16. A soap dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein a soap passage between the pump and the spout or part of it is of a biocidal material, preferably of either plastic with biocidal additives or metal or plated with such metal having biocidal properties.

17. A soap dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16, including:

• a source of liquid soap, • a source of compressed air, • a chamber for mixing soap and air, on supply thereof from the sources, for making soap foam, • an outlet of soap foam from the mixing chamber and • means for irradiating the soap in the mixing chamber with ultraviolet light.

18. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

• the irradiation means is at least one LED emitting in the ultra violet range;

• the LED is mounted above a hands-presence detector, and • control circuitry is provided for activating the UV LED with pumps for the air and the soap.

19. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the mixing chamber is permanently closed, save for soap and air inlets and the soap foam outlet, and the chamber is of two or three, preferably biocidal, parts, whereby it can be disassembled for cleaning.

20. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 20, including a mesh up-stream and/or downstream of the mixing chamber, the mesh being of biocidal material.

5

21. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 20, including a mesh up-stream and/or downstream of the mixing chamber, the irradiation means being arranged to inadiate the mesh(es).