WO2013133964A1 - Distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains - Google Patents

Distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013133964A1
WO2013133964A1 PCT/US2013/026687 US2013026687W WO2013133964A1 WO 2013133964 A1 WO2013133964 A1 WO 2013133964A1 US 2013026687 W US2013026687 W US 2013026687W WO 2013133964 A1 WO2013133964 A1 WO 2013133964A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hand protection
barriers
stack
hand
protection barrier
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2013/026687
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth R. BALKIN
Catherine C. TOLLEFSON
Judith L. BALKIN
Original Assignee
Balkin Kenneth R
Tollefson Catherine C
Balkin Judith L
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US13/415,017 external-priority patent/US8651323B2/en
Priority claimed from US13/526,892 external-priority patent/US8657151B2/en
Application filed by Balkin Kenneth R, Tollefson Catherine C, Balkin Judith L filed Critical Balkin Kenneth R
Priority to CN201380013236.2A priority Critical patent/CN104159486A/zh
Priority to JP2014560931A priority patent/JP6031661B2/ja
Publication of WO2013133964A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013133964A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K17/00—Other equipment, e.g. separate apparatus for deodorising, disinfecting or cleaning devices without flushing for toilet bowls, seats or covers; Holders for toilet brushes
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B65/00—Locks or fastenings for special use
    • E05B65/08—Locks or fastenings for special use for sliding wings
    • E05B65/087—Locks or fastenings for special use for sliding wings the bolts sliding parallel to the wings
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B1/00—Knobs or handles for wings; Knobs, handles, or press buttons for locks or latches on wings
    • E05B1/0069—Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B17/00—Accessories in connection with locks
    • E05B17/002—Weather or dirt protection

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains generally to disposable sanitary barriers for temporarily covering the hand, and more particularly to a hand protection barrier dispenser for dispensing such barriers.
  • harmful bacteria may often be present on the hands of public restroom users, and such harmful bacteria can be and are left behind on the restroom door handle by such users as they are exiting the restroom. Bacteria can survive sufficiently long to be passed on to subsequent restroom users even though they have washed their hands by touching the door handle as they leave the restroom. Most public restroom users would be happier with the knowledge that they can leave a restroom without picking up bacteria from previous users unwashed hands that may have been left on the restroom door handle.
  • tissue sheet only provides a barrier for the front surface of the restroom user's hand.
  • the restroom user must take a sheet of tissue from the dispenser and manipulate it to a position that covers the restroom user's hand so that no part of the restroom user's hand touches the restroom door handle.
  • Many restroom users using the sheet of tissue do not take the time or care to properly position the tissue to provide an effective protective barrier.
  • the Panella patent provides a hygienic pocket of material that may be placed on a restroom user's hand, and has an adhesive used to temporarily retain the hygienic pocket of material on the restroom user's hand while the door handle of a restroom door is being grasped.
  • the hygienic pockets of material are dispensed from a dispenser that is only minimally disclosed.
  • the hygienic pocket of material consists of two sheets retained together to define the pocket, with the sheet having the adhesive thereupon being longer than the other sheet. Dispensing such hygienic pockets of material that each include adhesive does not appear to be addressed by the Panella patent.
  • the device of the Balkin et al. '017 Application dispenses hand protection barriers from a stack of hand protection barriers each having an opening therein near a top end thereof.
  • the dispensing mechanism dispenses the hand protection barriers selectively directs pressurized gas through one or more nozzles toward the opening in the top hand protection barriers in the stack to open it so that a user can insert his/her hand into it and pull it off of the stack, whereupon the next hand protection barrier in the stack may be opened. While this dispenser represented a very substantial improved over the other devices referenced above, it requires a canister of pressurized gas and a valving system to control the supply of pressurized gas to the nozzle(s).
  • the present invention takes the form of a hand protection barrier dispenser for dispensing hand protection barriers which may be located at any convenient location.
  • the hand protection barrier dispensed by the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is made of a thin, impermeable material such as plastic that defines a hand protection barrier.
  • the hand protection barriers may be defined by a segment of plastic film that is folded in half and sealed on its sides, thereby leaving a single opening.
  • the hand protection barriers may be dispensed from a stack of hand protection barriers that are removably mounted on a hand protection barrier dispenser in a manner allowing a single hand protection barrier to be dispensed at a time.
  • Such hand protection barriers provide a user- friendly way for restroom users to exit a public restroom without directly contacting a potentially germ covered restroom door handle.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser that is used to dispense these hand protection barriers from the stack of hand protection barriers may be mounted on a door, such as a public restroom door, adjacent to the door handle or knob, or on an adjacent wall.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser could of course also be mounted in other convenient locations where the dispensing of hand protection barriers is desirable. Examples of such other locations include locations in grocery store produce, meat, and bakery departments, as well as at self-service gas stations.
  • the hand protection barriers are dispensed from the stack of hand protection barriers located on the hand protection barrier dispenser, which may be mounted on a door, a wall, or some other support.
  • the stack of hand protection barriers are dispensed individually, with the top one of the hand protection barriers in the stack being automatically opened by the hand protection barrier dispenser for donning by a user.
  • the exposed hand protection barrier is supported in a position allowing a user to easily access it by slipping the user's hand into it and pulling it from the hand protection barrier dispenser, which action also exposes the next hand protection barrier in the stack, which is then in position to be dispensed.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser for dispensing hand protection barriers from a stack of hand protection barriers each having an opening therein near a top end thereof has a housing including a receptacle in which the stack of hand protection barriers may be installed for dispensing, wherein the receptacle has first and second sides and first and second ends and wherein the stack of hand protection barriers is installed in the receptacle with the top ends of the hand protection barriers located adjacent the first end of the receptacle, and wherein the receptacle is arranged and configured to have a V shaped cross-section with the apex of the "V" extending in a direction essentially parallel to and midway between the first and second sides of the receptacle; an electric blower located in the housing which electric blower has an exhaust opening from which the electric blower blows air when the electric blower is provided with electric power; a switching mechanism which is located in the housing and is connected to a source of electric power, the switching mechanism being configured to provide electric power to
  • hand protection barriers each having an opening therein near a top end thereof are dispensed from a stack of such hand protection barriers by installing the stack of hand protection barriers in a receptacle in the hand protection barrier dispenser; providing an electric blower located in the housing which has an exhaust opening from air is blown when the electric blower is provided with electric power; controlling the operation of the electric blower to blow air with a switching mechanism, the switching mechanism providing electric power to the electric blower when the switching mechanism is actuated and not provide electric power to the electric blower when the switching mechanism is not actuated; directing the air blown from the exhaust opening of the electric blower through at least one nozzle receiving air blown from the electric blower when the switching mechanism is actuated toward the opening in a top one of the hand protection barriers in the stack of hand protection barriers in a manner that opens the top hand protection barrier to facilitate a user inserting the user's hand through the opening in the top hand protection barrier to don the top hand protection barrier; and pulling the top hand protection barrier in which
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention may be mounted on or near a restroom door such that it is in a convenient location to dispense hand protection barriers to restroom users as they are about to leave the restroom.
  • a hand protective barrier dispenser may be used in other applications, such as in grocery stores in the produce, meat, and/or bakery departments, to protect users' hands from direct contact with meat, fruit, vegetables, and/or bakery products, thereby enabling purchasers to purchase uncontaminated food.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention may also be used at self-service gas stations, to prevent gasoline, oil, or other substances from contacting the user's hands. Still another potential use of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is use in cleaning pet liter containers.
  • the present invention teaches a simple, inexpensive, and yet effective hand protection barrier dispenser for use by public restroom users and the like to dispense hand protection barriers.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary hand protection barrier dispenser with the in accordance with the present invention showing the principal operating components mounted on a housing base with lower and upper housing members exploded away from the housing base for clarity;
  • FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the hand protection barrier dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 assembled with the upper and lower housing members removed to show the assembly of the various components mounted on a housing base;
  • FIG. 3 is isometric view of the hand protection barrier dispenser illustrated in FIG. with the lower housing installed on the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2, and with the upper housing being installed onto the lower housing;
  • FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the folding of a segment of thin film material which will be formed into a hand protection barrier
  • FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a finished hand protection barrier made from the folded segment of thin film material illustrated in FIG. 4 showing the hand protection barrier's sealed sides, the mounting apertures located therein, and the notches located therein adjacent each of the mounting apertures;
  • FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view showing the assembly of a stack of the hand protection barriers illustrated in FIG. 5 that is held together with mounting spools in each of the four mounting apertures;
  • FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the stack of hand protection barriers illustrated in FIG. 6 being installed onto the hand protection barrier dispenser illustrated in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 8 is a first cross-sectional view of the hand protection barrier dispenser and the stack of hand protection barriers illustrated in FIG. 7, showing the V-shaped configuration of the stack of hand protection barriers on the upper housing;
  • FIG. 9 is a second cross-sectional view of the hand protection barrier dispenser and the stack of hand protection barriers illustrated in FIG. 7, showing the manner in which the top hand protection barrier is opened by air pressure;
  • FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the hand protection barrier dispenser and the stack of hand protection barriers illustrated in FIG. 7 mounted on a surface, showing the top hand protection barrier shown in an open position on the hand protection barrier dispenser after it has been opened by air pressure so that it is ready to be dispensed;
  • FIG. 11 is a an isometric view of the hand protection barrier dispenser illustrated in FIG. 10 showing a user's hand triggering the sensor and about to be inserted into the top hand protection barrier;
  • FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the hand protection barrier dispenser illustrated in FIG. 11 showing the user's hand fully inserted into the top hand protection barrier;
  • FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 12, showing the user's hand in the hand protection barrier having torn the top hand protection barrier from the stack of hand protection barriers;
  • FIG. 14 is a plan view similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 13, showing the hand protection barrier dispenser opening the next hand protection barrier to prepare it for dispending;
  • FIG. 15 is an isometric view showing the hand protection barrier dispenser containing the stack of hand protection barriers shown in FIG. 7 mounted on a restroom door near a restroom door handle;
  • FIG. 16 is an isometric view showing the hand protection barrier dispenser containing the stack of hand protection barriers shown in FIG. 7 mounted at a location near a produce section of a grocery store;
  • FIG. 17 is an isometric view showing the hand protection barrier dispenser containing the stack of hand protection barriers shown in FIG. 7 mounted on a gasoline pump at a service station.
  • FIG. 1 An exemplary embodiment of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is illustrated in the figures and may be discussed in conjunction therewith.
  • a housing base 30 is a flat member onto which the various components of the hand protection barrier dispenser will be assembled.
  • a lower housing member 32 which will be mounted onto the housing base 30 is shown exploded away from the housing base 30, and an upper housing member 34 which will be mounted onto the lower housing member 32 is shown exploded away from the lower housing member 32.
  • the housing base 30 may be made of a stamped segment of sheet metal, and contains a plurality of small apertures through which a plurality of screws may be passed to mount the various components of the hand protection barrier dispenser onto the housing base 30.
  • the principal operating components of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention are mounted onto the housing base 30.
  • the housing base 30 has a rectangular aperture 36 located therein into which a removable bottom cover member 38 is shown as being installed (through the use of four screws).
  • the bottom cover member 38 is removable from the housing base 30 to facilitate access to the interior of the hand protection barrier dispenser.
  • a system board 40 that contains most of the electronic circuitry that is used to operate the hand protection barrier dispenser is mounted (with four screws in an electrically isolated manner) onto the surface of the bottom cover member 38 that will be on the inside of the hand protection barrier dispenser when the bottom cover member 38 is installed into the rectangular aperture 36 of the housing base 30.
  • the system board 40 optionally includes a communications connector 42 which may be used to connect the system board 40 to a computer (not shown) which may optionally be used to program the system board 40, which may be an off-the-shelf programmable board.
  • the system board 40 optionally includes a power connector 44 which may be used to power the system board 40 either during its programming or also optionally during the operation of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention, although it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this may not be desirable since it would require supplying external power to the hand protection barrier dispenser, which would likely complicate its installation.
  • Two battery holders 46 and 48 that are preferably used to power the operation of the hand protection barrier dispenser are mounted (with four screws each) onto the surface of the bottom cover member 38 that will be on the inside of the hand protection barrier dispenser but accessible by removing the upper housing member 34.
  • the battery holders 46 and 48 are respectively connected to supply power to the system board 40 with wires 50 and 52 (shown only in FIG. 2).
  • the battery holders 46 and 48 may be any of a number of different types so long as the voltage output and the longevity of the power sources to be installed in the battery holders 46 and 48 are sufficient to power the operation of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention for a sufficiently long duration (or a sufficient number of hand protection barriers to be dispensed).
  • the battery holders 46 and 48 shown will each hold, for example, four AA-size alkaline or lithium batteries, which will dispense at least approximately 500 hand protection barriers from the hand protection barrier dispenser.
  • a compact electric-powered blower 54 is mounted intermediate the two battery holders 46 and 48 on the housing base 30 using a blower bracket 56.
  • the blower bracket 56 is mounted onto the housing base 30 using a pair of screws, and the blower 54 is mounted onto the blower bracket 56 using a pair of screws.
  • the blower 54 is selectively supplied with electric power from the system board 40 with wires 58 to cause the blower 54 to plow air from an outlet located near the top of the blower 54 and at the side facing toward the system board 40.
  • An air duct assembly 60 is mounted onto the exhaust of the blower 54 to direct the air blown by the blower 54 when it is provided with electric power by the system board 40.
  • the blower 54 should operate on low voltage direct current, given that the power supply of the hand protection barrier dispenser is from batteries that will be installed in the battery holders 46 and 48. It should also provide an appropriately selected flow of air when it is powered.
  • An example of an appropriate choice for the blower 54 is a Model PMB1275PNB1-AY DC brushless blower from Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd. of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C., which operates on 12 Volts DC (6-13.8 Volts DC) and has a nominal air delivery rate of 13.6 CFM when operated at the rated speed.
  • a support bracket 62 is shown mounted onto the surface of the housing base 30 that will be on the inside of the hand protection barrier dispenser.
  • a second support bracket 64 is shown exploded off of the housing base 30 on the same side thereof. The support brackets 62 and 64 are used to support portions of the lower housing member 32 above the housing base 30.
  • the air duct assembly 60 extends through an slot 66 located in the lower housing member 32 (which will be discussed more fully below in conjunction with the discussion of the lower housing member 32) which slot 66 is open at the top side of the lower housing member 32.
  • the air duct assembly 60 has a hollow interior to convey air provided when the blower 54 is operated.
  • the air duct assembly 60 shown herein has two nozzles 80 and 82 located on the front side of the air duct assembly 60 as it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the nozzles 80 and 82 being spaced slightly apart and directing air downwardly and away from the blower 54.
  • the nozzles 82 and 84 may also be mounted in the air duct assembly 60 in an adjustable fashion thereby allowing them to be optimally directed.
  • the nozzles 82 and 84 may each be flow controlled by using a valve or a flow-adjustable orifice to control the flow through each of them. While it would likely prove to be unduly complex, it would also be optionally possible to operate the nozzles 82 and 84 to move to accommodate a changing height of hand protection barriers located in the hand protection barrier dispenser. Additionally, more or less than two nozzles may be used with the air duct assembly 60 if desired.
  • the last of the primary operating components of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is a sensor board 88.
  • the sensor board 88 will be mounted to the surface of the lower housing member 32 (shown in FIG. 1) in a position to be described below.
  • the sensor board 88 has a signal source 90, a reflected signal sensor 92, and an indicator LED 94 mounted thereupon.
  • the signal source 90 generates an optical or high frequency signal that may be reflected back onto the reflected signal sensor 92 by an object (such as the hand of a person) that is in sufficiently close proximity (i.e., within approximately six inches or less) to the signal source 90 and the reflected signal sensor 92 on the sensor board 88.
  • the signal source 90 may be, for example, an infrared LED or an ultrasonic signal generator
  • the reflected signal sensor 92 may be, for example, a photodiode sensitive to infrared or an ultrasonic detector, respectively.
  • the indicator LED 94 must be clearly visible to a person when illuminated.
  • the sensor board 88 is electrically connected to the system board 40 with wires 96 (shown only in FIG. 2) used to allow the system board 40 to operate the sensor board 88 as well as to provide information from the sensor board 88 back to the system board 40.
  • the housing base 30 may also have a plurality of mounting holes 98 located therein (some of which are visible in FIGS. 1 and 2) for attaching the hand protection barrier dispenser to a surface on which it is to be mounted (not shown in FIGS. 1 or 2).
  • the lower housing member 32 has two opposite side members 100 and 102, with a recessed, rectangular barrier receptacle 104 located intermediate the side members 100 and 102 into which a stack of hand protection barriers (to be described below in conjunction with FIGS. 4 through 6) will be installed for dispensing therefrom.
  • the barrier receptacle 104 is V-shaped in cross-section with the apex of the "V" extending in a direction essentially parallel to and midway between the side members 100 and 102. This "V" shape is important to ensure proper dispensing of hand protection barriers from the hand protection barrier dispenser, as will become evident below in conjunction with a discussion of FIGS. 8 and 9.
  • a rectangular, V-shaped elevated floor 106 that extends substantially the entire width of the barrier receptacle 104, but which is spaced away from the end of the barrier receptacle 104 at which the slot 66 is located. This space is also important to ensure proper dispensing of hand protection barriers from the hand protection barrier dispenser, as will become evident below, as will also become evident below in conjunction with a discussion of FIGS. 8 and 9.
  • Located in the barrier receptacle 104 near to the four corners thereof are four dispenser mounting pegs 108 which extend upwardly from the top surface of the barrier receptacle 104.
  • the air duct assembly 60 is located in the slot 66 in the lower housing member 32.
  • the lower housing member 32 blower 54 and the blower bracket 56 are then lowered onto the housing base 30, and the blower bracket 56 is secured to the housing base 30 as described above, after which the lower housing member 32 may be secured on the housing base 30 with a plurality of screws.
  • the upper housing member 34 is configured to fit over the lower housing member 32 intermediate the side members 100 and 102 of the lower housing member 32, in a manner enclosing completely the large opening 110 in the lower housing member 32.
  • the upper housing member 34 has a large opening 112 therein which surrounds the barrier receptacle 104 in the lower housing member 32, leaving the barrier receptacle 104 completely accessible through 112 in the upper housing member 34.
  • the upper housing member 34 has three apertures 114, 116, and 118 located therein which are respectively aligned with the signal source 90, the reflected signal sensor 92, and the indicator LED 94 of the sensor board 88 (shown in FIG. 2).
  • the sensor board 88 will be mounted (using two small screws not shown) under the upper housing member 34, with the signal source 90 sending its signal through the aperture 114, the reflected signal passing through the aperture 116 to the reflected signal sensor 92, and the indicator LED 94 being visible through the aperture 118.
  • the upper housing member 34 is removable from the housing base 30 to facilitate access to the dispenser batteries (not shown) mounted in the battery holders 46 and 48 which may be used to power the hand protection barrier dispenser and other components of the hand protection barrier dispenser.
  • the upper housing member 34 may be secured to the lower housing member 32 with a plurality of screws.
  • FIG. 4 a thin sheet of film material 130 having opposite ends 132 and 134 and opposite sides 136 and 138 which will be formed into a hand protection barrier is illustrated.
  • the sheet of film material 130 is longer than it is wide, and it is folded in half lengthwise along a fold line indicated by the reference numeral 140, bringing the ends 132 and 134 together.
  • the end 134 is then folded down as shown in FIG. 4, thereby making a cuff 142.
  • This cuff 142 provides an additional degree of stiffness to this area of the sheet of film material 130 which will be of importance in the operation of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention, as will become evident below.
  • the sheet of film material 130 is preferably very thin, for example approximately 0.8 mil (0.0008 inches) thick, although its thickness may be varied substantially without departing from the principle of the present invention (for example, from 0.5 mils (0.0005 inches) to 3.0 mils (0.0030 inches)). It may be made of polyethylene film or any other suitable material, and preferably either are made of an anti-static material or have an anti-static substance applied thereto.
  • a suitable type of antistatic material is polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), which is a low-charging material (i.e. the material itself will not create a static charge).
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • FIG. 5 The completion of the manufacture of the sheet of film material 130 into a hand protection barrier 144 is shown in FIG. 5.
  • the side 136 is sealed together as indicated by the reference numeral 146
  • the side 138 is sealed together as indicated by the reference numeral 148. It will be appreciated that the sealed sides 146 and 148 will maintain the cuff 142 in place.
  • an aperture 150 is made in the hand protection barrier 144 adjacent each of its four corners (the apertures 150 may be a bit further from the end 132 than they are from the fold line 140).
  • a notch 152 is placed into the side 136 or 138 adjacent to each of the apertures 150 to make it easier to tear the sheet of film material 130 between the sides 136 and 138 and the apertures 150.
  • the end 132 of the sheet of film material 130 defines a top end of each hand protection barrier 144 and the fold line 140 defines a bottom end of each hand protection barrier 144.
  • a seal line 156 parallel to the fold line 140 is made in the hand protection barrier 144 on the sides of the two apertures 150 closest to the bottom of the hand protection barrier 144 on the sides of the apertures 150 opposite the fold line 140 to enclose the interior of the hand protection barrier 144 except at the location of the cuff 142.
  • FIG. 6 The assembly of a plurality of the hand protection barriers 144 into a stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 is illustrated in FIG. 6.
  • Four spools 160 each having a diameter approximately the same as the diameters of the apertures 150 and flanges located at the top and bottom ends thereof that are sufficiently larger than the diameters of the apertures 150 are respectively inserted through the aligned the apertures 150 at the corners of the stacked hand protection barriers 144 to maintain them together.
  • the spools 160 have an aperture 162 therethrough that is designed to fit in an interference fit onto the dispenser mounting pegs 108 in the barrier receptacle 104 of the lower housing member 32 (shown in FIG. 1).
  • a collar 164 Located at the top end of the stack of hand protection barriers 144 is a collar 164 that is U-shaped in cross-section and encloses the top ends 132 of each of the hand protection barriers 144 in the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 therein.
  • the collar 164 has four apertures 166 respectively located adjacent the four corners of the collar 164 that are the same size as the apertures 150 in the hand protection barriers 144. It may be seen from FIG. 6 that the two spools 160 located near the top of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 each extend through two of the apertures 166 in the collar 164 as well as one of the apertures 150 in each of the hand protection barriers 144 in the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • the hand protection barriers 144 may have an attachment mechanism to each other to further facilitate the opening of the next subsequent hand protection barrier 144 when a hand protection barrier 144 is torn away from the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • Such an attachment point 168 may optionally be located at the midpoint of the cuff 142 of each hand protection barrier 144 which will provide a weak attachment to the hand protection barrier 144 located on top of it to help to open the hand protection barrier 144 when the previous hand protection barrier 144 is removed from the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • This attachment point 168 may, for example, consist of a small amount of a weak adhesive that will be sufficiently strong to open the hand protection barrier 144 when the previous hand protection barrier 144 is removed from the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144, but not strong enough for the subsequent hand protection barrier 144 to be removed from the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 is shown as it is installed onto a fully assembled hand protection barrier dispenser 170.
  • the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 is lowered into the barrier receptacle 104, with the bottom of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 resting on the elevated floor 106 of the barrier receptacle 104.
  • the four spools 160 in the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 are then lowered so that the apertures 162 in the spools 160 fully engage the dispenser mounting pegs 108 to retain the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 in the hand protection barrier dispenser 170.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 in addition to FIG. 7, the importance of the elevated floor 106 of the barrier receptacle 104, the V-shaped contour of the barrier receptacle 104 and the elevated floor 106 of the barrier receptacle 104, and the use of the cuff 142 on the hand protection barriers 144 may be fully appreciated.
  • the blower 54 blows air that is used to open each of the hand protection barriers 144.
  • the air blown from the blower 54 is provided to the air duct assembly 60, and it is directed by the nozzles 80 and 82 toward the top portion of the hand protection barrier 144 on top of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144. It will cause the cuff 142 of that hand protection barrier 144 to be blown upward, opening the hand protection barrier 144.
  • the portion of that hand protection barrier 144 is blown upward, it may be seen from FIG 8 that it will have an inverted U-shape that is located opposite the V-shape of the portion of that hand protection barrier 144 that remains in contact with the rest of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • blower 54 With the particular blower 54 identified above, it has been determined that the blower 54 must be powered for approximately two seconds in order to inflate the hand protection barrier 144 on top of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144. With this particular blower 54, operation for two seconds will not bring it to its full speed, but operation for two seconds will be sufficient to inflate the top hand protection barrier 144. While the model of the blower 54 may vary, it will be appreciated that the duration of operation of the blower 54 may vary between approximately one second to approximately ten seconds.
  • system board 40 may be configured to vary the duration of operation of the blower 54 depending upon the voltage of the batteries contained in the battery holders 46 and 48, increasing the duration of operation of the blower 54 as the battery voltage drops to compensate for the blower 54 accelerating slower or to a lower speed as a result of the lower battery voltage.
  • top of the cuffs 142 of the hand protection barriers 144 are located at the right-most edge of the elevated floor 106 of the barrier receptacle 104. This ensures that the air blown from the blower 54 and provided to the air duct assembly 60 will consistently open the top hand protection barrier 144, which is already slightly open due to the location and the contour of the elevated floor 106.
  • the V-shaped contour of the barrier receptacle 104 and the elevated floor 106 of the barrier receptacle 10, provide the same V-shaped contour to the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144, meaning that once the air blown from the blower 54 through the air duct assembly 60 has opened the topmost hand protection barrier 144, it will tend to stay in an open position rather than collapsing into a closed position. Additionally, once the hand protection barrier 144 has been opened, the cuff 142 provides additional stiffness and rigidity to also tend to assist it in staying in that position.
  • a preferred mode of operation of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is that operation may be implemented by the electronic system contained in the system board 40.
  • One possible operating mode of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention would be to use the system sensor (the signal source 90 and the reflected signal sensor 92) to operate the blower 54 to provide air through the air duct assembly 60 to open a hand protection barrier 144 when a user's hand is in sufficiently close proximity to the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 to activate the system sensor, after which the user may insert his/her hand into the hand protection barrier 144 and tear it off of the rest of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • this is not the preferred manner of dispensing the hand protection barriers 144.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention operated in a preferred mode wherein the top hand protection barrier 144 is open before the user approaches the hand protection barrier dispenser 170. This is done by using the system sensor (the signal source 90 and the reflected signal sensor 92) to sense when a user is about to insert his/her hand into the hand protection barrier 144. This initiates a timed period, which may be, for example from approximately three to twenty seconds (preferably approximately five seconds), during which it is assumed that the user has inserted his/her hand into the hand protection barrier 144 and torn it off of the rest of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • a timed period which may be, for example from approximately three to twenty seconds (preferably approximately five seconds), during which it is assumed that the user has inserted his/her hand into the hand protection barrier 144 and torn it off of the rest of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • the electronic system contained in the system board 40 will operate the blower 54 to provide air through the air duct assembly 60 to open the hand protection barrier 144 on top of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • the raised surface 106 facilitates the air provided by the blower 54 and passing through the air duct assembly 60 to open the top hand protection barrier 144, and the V-shaped raised surface 106 and barrier receptacle 104 together with the cuff 142 on the hand protection barrier 144 ensure that once opened the hand protection barrier 144 will remain in its opened position.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 is not used for a sufficiently long period of time, an additional operation of the blower 54 will provide air through the air duct assembly 60 to ensure that the hand protection barrier 144 is kept in its opened position.
  • the electronic system contained in the system board 40 can also keep track of how many hand protection barriers 144 are remaining in the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • the system sensor the signal source 90 and the reflected signal sensor 92
  • the electronic system will assume that a hand protection barrier 144 was dispensed and decrement the number of hand protection barriers 144 remaining in the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 by one.
  • the electronic system may begin to periodically flash the indicator LED 94 (shown in FIG. 2), which will be visible through the aperture 118 in the upper housing member 34 (shown in FIG. 1) to alert a facility operator that only the predetermined number of hand protection barriers 144 remain and a new stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144 must be installed soon.
  • the indicator LED 94 shown in FIG. 2
  • the system board 40 may be programmed using the communications connector 42 (shown in FIG. 1), it will be appreciated that a number of variables may be set, preferably by using a computer connected to the communications connector 42 and running appropriate software. Alternately, instead of using the communications connector 42, a wireless connection (WI-FI or Bluetooth) could instead be used to allow the system board 40 to be programmed. Thus, it will be appreciated that the supply of air from the blower 54 through the air duct assembly 60 may be enabled by pulse duration, count, intervals, etc. Additionally, the timing of the warning indicator (the indicator LED 94) may also be configured. Since the system can run on batteries or use a low voltage power adapter connected to the power connector 44 (shown in FIG. 1), it will be appreciated that it can be installed anywhere and is quite safe as well.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 is shown mounted upon a surface 180, with a hand protection barrier 144 in an opened configuration for dispensing.
  • a user of the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 is shown beginning to insert his/her hand 182 into the open hand protection barrier 144, in the process placing his/her hand over the system sensor (the signal source 90 and the reflected signal sensor 92, which are shown in FIG. 10). This will initiate the timed period referenced above that is operated by the electronic system contained in the system board 40.
  • FIG. 12 the user's hand 182 is shown fully inserted into the open hand protection barrier 144, but without the open hand protection barrier 144 having been moved from the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144.
  • FIG. 13 it may be seen that the user's hand 182 has pulled the open hand protection barrier 144 to the left and torn it off of the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144, which exposes the next hand protection barrier 144, which at this point is unopened.
  • FIG. 14 the timed period operated by the electronic system contained in the system board 40 has expired, and the operation of the blower 54 will provide air through the air duct assembly 60 is shown to be in the process of opening the top hand protection barrier 144 in the stack 154 of hand protection barriers 144. Finally the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 will have returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 10, with the next hand protection barrier 144 being fully open and ready for dispensing to the next user.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 is illustrated as mounted on a restroom door 190 near a restroom door handle 192 of the restroom door 190.
  • the restroom door 190 is mounted in a restroom door frame 194.
  • a restroom user may dispense a hand protection barrier 144 from the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 onto the user's hand 182, and turn the restroom door handle 192 to open the restroom door 190 while using the hand protection barrier 144 to protect the user's hand 182 from bacterial potentially located on the restroom door handle 192.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 is illustrated as mounted on a dispenser support member 200 located at the top of dispenser support post 202 supported from a dispenser support base 204.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 may be located adjacent a produce section 206 in a grocery store.
  • a shopper may dispense a hand protection barrier 144 from the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 onto the shopper's hand, after which the shopper may select product without potentially contaminating the produce handled or selected.
  • the customer may dispose of the hand protection barrier 80 into a disposal bin 208.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 may also find application in the bakery section or the meat department of a grocery store.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 is illustrated as mounted on the side of a gas pump 210.
  • a customer may dispense a hand protection barrier 144 from the hand protection barrier dispenser 170 onto the customer's hand, after which the customer may pump gas from the gas pump 210. After the customer is finished, the customer may dispose of the hand protection barrier 144 into a disposal bin 212.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime.
  • the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the hand protection barrier dispenser of the present invention are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
  • Toilet Supplies (AREA)

Abstract

Distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains, qui permet de distribuer des éléments formant barrière sanitaire jetables destinés à couvrir temporairement la main et à assurer une protection totale des mains, ledit distributeur distribuant les éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains, de manière qu'un utilisateur dudit distributeur puisse y insérer aisément les mains. Ledit distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains fonctionne de manière à ouvrir chacun des éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains dans une position d'être distribuées et enfilées facilement. Le distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains ne distribue qu'un seul élément formant barrière de protection pour les mains à la fois.
PCT/US2013/026687 2012-03-08 2013-02-19 Distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains WO2013133964A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201380013236.2A CN104159486A (zh) 2012-03-08 2013-02-19 手部防护阻挡物分配器
JP2014560931A JP6031661B2 (ja) 2012-03-08 2013-02-19 手保護バリア分出器

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/415,017 US8651323B2 (en) 2008-02-07 2012-03-08 Hand protection barrier dispenser
US13/415,017 2012-03-08
US13/526,892 US8657151B2 (en) 2008-02-07 2012-06-19 Hand protection barrier dispenser
US13/526,892 2012-06-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013133964A1 true WO2013133964A1 (fr) 2013-09-12

Family

ID=49117188

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2013/026687 WO2013133964A1 (fr) 2012-03-08 2013-02-19 Distributeur d'éléments formant barrière de protection pour les mains

Country Status (3)

Country Link
JP (1) JP6031661B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN104159486A (fr)
WO (1) WO2013133964A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD794355S1 (en) 2015-06-12 2017-08-15 Gregory Tirondola Dispenser
US20210330109A1 (en) * 2020-04-22 2021-10-28 Samir Hanna Safar Protection sheet dispenser

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2544828B (en) 2016-04-01 2018-02-28 Yeo Oliver A protective barrier dispenser for providing hygienic protection of hands when using a service station forecourt fuel pump

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KR950002326B1 (ko) * 1993-05-22 1995-03-16 이길복 우산꽂이용 비닐봉투의 추출장치
US5878909A (en) * 1996-12-20 1999-03-09 Rogow; Mark R. Glove dispenser
US6375034B1 (en) * 2000-03-21 2002-04-23 Adrian Corbett Glove dispenser
US20090200329A1 (en) * 2008-02-07 2009-08-13 Balkin Kenneth R Hand Protection Barrier Dispenser
US20110186589A1 (en) * 2010-02-03 2011-08-04 Lanny Lee Strip arrayed gloves and dispensing apparatus

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR950002326B1 (ko) * 1993-05-22 1995-03-16 이길복 우산꽂이용 비닐봉투의 추출장치
US5878909A (en) * 1996-12-20 1999-03-09 Rogow; Mark R. Glove dispenser
US6375034B1 (en) * 2000-03-21 2002-04-23 Adrian Corbett Glove dispenser
US20090200329A1 (en) * 2008-02-07 2009-08-13 Balkin Kenneth R Hand Protection Barrier Dispenser
US20110186589A1 (en) * 2010-02-03 2011-08-04 Lanny Lee Strip arrayed gloves and dispensing apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD794355S1 (en) 2015-06-12 2017-08-15 Gregory Tirondola Dispenser
US20210330109A1 (en) * 2020-04-22 2021-10-28 Samir Hanna Safar Protection sheet dispenser
US11534014B2 (en) * 2020-04-22 2022-12-27 Samir Hanna Safar Protection sheet dispenser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP6031661B2 (ja) 2016-11-24
CN104159486A (zh) 2014-11-19
JP2015515293A (ja) 2015-05-28

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