Abstract:
The present invention comprises an arm-mountable device for the discharge of hand treatment medications into the palm of the hand. In it simplest embodiment, the device is a compressible squeeze bladder with nozzle that is affixed to the underside of the wrist with a wristband. The contents of the bladder are ejected in a small burst to the palm of the hand upon initiation of compression of the bladder by the free hand. Features of various advanced embodiments include pressure multiplying squeeze bladders, plunger-based devices, and adjustable nozzles.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       PRIOR ART  
         [0001]    The increase in bacterial immunity to modern antibiotics is problematic and one of the chief vectors of infection is the human hand. Hence, when not in the proximity of a washroom to disinfect one&#39;s hands, it would be useful to have a means to accomplish such sanitation. Also, in the midst of daily activities, it can be inconvenient to uncap bottles of disinfecting gels or hand lotions to otherwise treat the hands.  
           [0002]    Fortunately, it has been established that ethyl alcohol is a most effective antiseptic for gram-negative pathogens; it is of low viscosity, easily dispensed from a portable container, and does not require the use of a material wipe or cloth because of the speed of its evaporation. Further, an adequate dose for sanitizing the hands comprises but a few drops of this antiseptic. To prevent chafing, glycerin can be added to the alcohol without levels of viscosity increase that would be deleterious to the dispensing process.  
           [0003]    Various methods of portable disinfectant or lotion dispensers have been disclosed in the prior art. These include body-mounted dispensers, wrist bracelet dispensers, and others. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,946 discloses a dispensing tube that drips liquid onto the hand. U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,898 discloses a tube-fed finger dispenser. A body worn dispenser of form factor similar to a pager is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,548.  
           [0004]    What has not been demonstrated is a dispenser that can be surreptitiously actuated. This is an important consideration with respect to public relations. Individuals such as business and sales personnel may come in contact with and greet many people during the day. It would be desirable to have the option of sanitizing the hands after a handshake with a person without conveying a disdainful message to that person.  
           [0005]    Additionally, a wrist-mounted dispenser that achieves dispensing directly to the hand with a simple hand action is another advantage of the present invention. This would be especially useful to nurses and doctors in busy hospital settings, as well as to allied health care workers who cannot take time to repeatedly wash their hands with soap and water.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention discloses a wrist or forearm-mounted device for dispensing a small amount of alcohol-based disinfectant hand rub, moisturizer, or other hand medicament. Even powder-based hand treatments can be dispensed using the present invention. A wristband or other means affix the device to the underside of the arm, above the wrist. In the preferred embodiment, the device is in the form of a thin, conformal squeeze bottle with a fluid stream-producing nozzle. When actuated, it dispenses a short jet of liquid into the palm or onto the fingers of the hand above which it is mounted. In an advanced embodiment, the bottle is of a pressure-multiplying design that shoots a single “dose” of liquid under pressure when mildly squeezed by the fingers of the free hand.  
           [0007]    Because only a few drops of alcohol-based disinfectant comprise a dose adequate to achieve sanitation of the hands, the device can dispense hundreds of doses of disinfectant before requiring refill or disposal. It can be used at any orientation of the arm and will avoid leakage when not actuated. In an advanced embodiment, very light compression of the device with one or more fingers of the alternate hand will generate a pressurized jet of disinfectant that is easily captured by the target hand. The dispensing device can be fabricated from pliable plastic and can be disposable. Other embodiments of the invention include actuation means on the top side of the wrist, adjustable nozzles, and pressurized and electromechanical actuation.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0008]    Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:  
           [0009]    (a) Provide a convenient, portable means for dispensing hand treatments;  
           [0010]    (b) Provide a cost-effective means for dispensing hand treatments;  
           [0011]    (c) Provide an unobtrusive means of dispensing hand treatments;  
           [0012]    (d) Provide an easily actuated means of dispensing hand treatments;  
           [0013]    (e) Provide an arm-mounted disposable means of dispensing hand treatments.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 a  is a pictorial diagram of a dispenser mounted on the underside of the wrist.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 b  is a pictorial diagram of the actuation of the wrist-mounted dispenser.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of a dispenser embodiment featuring actuation from the top of the wrist.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 a  is a pictorial diagram of a dispenser and wrist attachment means.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 b  is a side view of Velcro attachment means.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 c  is a pictorial view of snap attachment means.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 a  is a cross-sectional view of a simple squeeze dispenser.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 b  is a cross-sectional view of a pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 c  is a plan view of components of the nozzle assembly of the pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 d  is a pictorial view of the hidden components of the nozzle assembly of the pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of wrist motion actuation of a plunger-based dispenser.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art plunger.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 a  is a cross-sectional view of a pressure-multiplying plunger dispenser.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 b  is a pictorial view of components of the pressure-multiplying plunger dispenser.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable nozzle.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a dispenser with a flow adjusting nozzle. 
     
    
       [0030]    The following definitions serve to clarify the disclosed and claimed invention:  
         [0031]    Bladder refers to an elastic, resilient container that can be deformed under compression.  
         [0032]    Pressure-multiplying refers to those devices relying on the technique of increasing, by mechanical advantage, the compression pressure of a working fluid. This is achieved by use of an ejection fluid-containing tube that penetrates an ejection fluid-containing piston under the influence of the working fluid.  
         [0033]    Hand treatment material comprises any of a host of liquid, powder, gel, or aerosol medications, or sanitizing agents that are topically-applied to the hands. Examples include alcohol, glycerin, moisturizing lotions, and desiccating powders.  
         [0034]    Working fluid refers to the fluid which transfers manual pressure to the material to be dispensed. Such transfer of pressure can occur in one or multiple stages and typical working fluids include air contained in a squeeze bottle as well as liquid versions of the hand treatment material itself.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    The present invention is useful for dispensing either hand lotions such as moisturizers or disinfectants; even powders can be dispensed in powder-aerosol form. Typically the active ingredient in hand antiseptics such as Purel is ethyl alcohol. This is fortuitous because it is a relatively non-toxic liquid that exhibits low viscosity over the temperature range of interest for this application. This makes delivery of a directed stream of fluid relatively easy. In contrast to liquid, alcohol gels are useful in that they do not run and although they will require more force to dispense than liquid, such higher viscosity disinfectant or moisturizing formulations can be accommodated in differing embodiments of the present invention. Various means of dispensing the aforementioned hand treatments are feasible and can be tailored to type of material to be dispensed. In all cases, the target location for deposition of the hand treatment is some region of the underside of the hand, either fingers or palm. The preferred embodiment for a means of dispensing hand cleaning dosages is a device that attaches to the underside of the forearm and can be worn unobtrusively underneath a long-sleeved shirt. If only a long-sleeved shirt is worn as opposed to a jacket, the device would need to be conformal in nature and better match the shape of the arm or be of sufficiently low profile.  
         [0036]    Various approaches can be used to create the fluid dispenser. In a simple squeeze compartment design, a bladder reservoir expels fluid upon application to the bladder itself. In a plunger-based design, a syringe-type plunger causes the fluid in a reservoir to be expelled upon application of force to the plunger. Spray or squirting mechanisms analogous to squirt guns use a more specialized plunger mechanism and include a nozzle. A drip system would rely on gravity feeding of the liquid through an orifice for delivery to the hand. More elaborate schemes include use of a prime mover such as a miniature electrical actuator or pump.  
         [0037]    Following is a taxonomy of dispenser types identified  
         [0038]    Squeeze  
         [0039]    simple compression  
         [0040]    pressure multiplied compression  
         [0041]    Plunger  
         [0042]    simple plunger  
         [0043]    pressure multiplied plunger  
         [0044]    same hand-actuated  
         [0045]    Drip  
         [0046]    Gas Pressurized  
         [0047]    disposable  
         [0048]    gas cartridge  
         [0049]    Pump  
         [0050]    thermoelectrically-heated working fluid  
         [0051]    electromechanical  
         [0052]    Remote control using low power radio frequency means and single chip receivers  
         [0053]    Basic Configuration  
         [0054]    The simplest reduction to practice would be a low profile bladder mounted on the underside of a given arm that is squeezed by the hand of the alternate arm so that a stream of hand treatment material is dispensed. This is depicted in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b . Shown is a thin bladder  1  mounted on the underside of the wrist by means of some form of wristband  3 . The device is shown to have a nozzle assembly  5  and, optionally, a capped refill aperture  7 . A finger depression area  9  is highlighted. Alternatively, the wristband itself can be part of the dispenser as shown in FIG. 2. A working fluid whether air or liquid can fill a portion or all of the wristband  13 . Upon depression of the area  15  atop the wristband, pressure can be conveyed to the dispensing bladder underneath the wrist to cause a stream to be ejected into the hand. This can be especially effective in the pressure-multiplying dispenser discussed below. A three-dimensional depiction of the dispensing bladder is provided in FIG. 3 a . The bladder  21  can be formed from soft, pliable plastic such as polyethylene or other plastic not attacked by the chemical constituents of the hand treatment. A nozzle assembly  23  is shown with a centrally-located nozzle aperture  25 . The bladder  21  can be made integral with wristband  19  or as shown in FIGS. 3 b  and  3   c , made attachable to the wristband. In FIG. 3 b , the bladder  21  is shown attachable to the wristband  19  by Velcro component strips  31  and  33 . FIG. 3 c  depicts the use of snap elements  35  on the wristband  19  that mate with snap element counterparts on the side of the bladder. Another approach is to use clips that would attach to a wristwatch band.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4 a  is cross-sectional view of a simple embodiment comprising a squeeze bottle  36 . Internal to the squeeze bottle  36  are shown an air volume  37  and a hand treatment material-filled pliable bladder  38 . Upon squeezing bottle  36 , the pressure of air volume  37  is conveyed to filled bladder  38  so that hand treatment material is ejected from check valve-controlled channel  39 . The check valve in this channel prevents leakage, but allows ejection of hand treatment material under pressure.  
         [0056]    Upon release of pressure to bottle  36 , air is allowed to enter check valve-controlled channel  40  so as to replace the volume of hand treatment material ejected. The segregation of air and hand treatment material volumes permits the use of the device at any orientation with respect to gravity.  
         [0057]    Pressure-Multiplying Squeeze Dispenser  
         [0058]    A more sophisticated embodiment of the invention makes use of a pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser. Such a dispenser provides relatively high pressure ejection of fluid upon application of relatively little manual pressure. This allows good fluid stream formation and control over its trajectory to the target hand. For this reason U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,794 and 5,289,948 are hereby incorporated by reference thereto. In the first of these patents, the fundamental concept of a pressure-multiplying piston is disclosed. A pressure amplification is achieved that is equal to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the pressure-multiplying piston to the cross-sectional area of a tube penetrating the pressure-multiplying piston.  
         [0059]    Necessary to the present invention is means to allow the dispenser to operate independent of its orientation with respect to the gravity field and the need to insure leak-proof operation. The pressure multiplying concept is adapted to the present invention to achieve these goals as shall be described by reference to FIG. 4 b , a cross-sectional view of a pressure-multiplying version of this invention. Shown is an outer bladder  41  having an output nozzle assembly  63  and a refill port with cap  74 .  
         [0060]    Interior to the bladder  41  is an even more pliable bladder  45  that segregates the volume of the bladder  41  into an air-filled space  43  and a fluid filled space  87 . As can be understood, this is for the purpose of allowing operation independent of orientation with respect to gravity, in the same fashion as the embodiment of FIG. 4 a . Upon compression of bladder  41 , air in volume  43  causes compressive pressure on fluid-filled bladder  45 . This pressure is transferred to fluid-filled moveable cylinder  49  which translates within an outer guide cylinder  47 . Cylinder  49  has been filled with fluid by virtue of port  51  on the side of cylinder  47  near its base. As cylinder  49  is caused to translate upward, port  51  is sealed by the wall of cylinder  47  so that the pressure of fluid  53  inside cylinder  49  is applied to the end of tube assembly  83 . Similarly, as cylinder  49  begins upward translation, air intake port  58  is sealed by the wall of cylinder  49  so that air in volume  89  is exhausted through channel  61 . The pressure of the fluid in channel  81  of tube assembly  83  is increased over the pressure of the fluid in bladder  45  by the ratio of the cross-sectional area of cylinder  49  to the cross-sectional area of the end of tube assembly  83 .  
         [0061]    As cylinder  49  travels upward against the preload provided by spring  57  which is in turn captivated by spring seat  59 , the air in volume  43  opens spring-loaded gate valve assembly  73  so as to allow fluid to be ejected from channel  81 . Retaining protrusions  55  on the inside wall of cylinder  47  limit the upward travel of fluid-filled cylinder  49  in dispensing of a single dose of hand treatment. After the maximum amount of fluid in volume  53  of cylinder  49  is ejected at the limit of travel for cylinder  49  and upon removal of actuation pressure to bladder  41 , cylinder  49  under spring tension travels back downward into bladder  45 . Retaining flange  52  limits the downward travel of cylinder  47 . As cylinder  49  descends, its interior is under a partial vacuum and upon exposure of port  51  to the fluid in volume  87  by way of port  57  in the wall of cylinder  47 , the interior of cylinder  49  is refilled with liquid. At this same time, air intake port  58  in the wall of cylinder  47  is opened to allow air to enter volume  43  by way of volume  89  and channel  61 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIGS. 4 c  and  4   d  serve to illustrate the function of gate valve assembly  73 . In FIG. 4 c , it can be observed that the gate valve assembly  73  is actually a mechanism with three forward prongs and one backward-directed extension held in a position which blocks fluid channel  81  by means of preload spring  71 . The central forward prong has a rectangular or square cross section in contrast to the circular cross sections of the other prongs and the backward-directed extension so as to seat over the top of channel  81 . Air pressure to displace the gate valve assembly  73  and open fluid channel  81  is applied only to the two outboard prongs of assembly  73  by way of air channels  75 . Upon displacement of gate valve assembly  73 , it occupies additional volume  77 . Air channel  65  provides for release of air from spring compartment  69  upon progress of the backward-directed extension of assembly  73  into compartment  69 .  
         [0063]    Plunger-Type Dispenser  
         [0064]    An alternative to squeeze dispensing makes use of a plunger. The way in which a plunger would be exploited in the present invention is shown in FIG. 5, a pictorial side view of such a device. In this embodiment, a fluid storage compartment  91  of the same form factor as the previously described squeeze bladder is likewise mounted on the underside of the wrist. A fluid dispensing plunger  93  is actuated by downward flexion of the hand at the wrist so as to depress plunger  93  with the base of the palm. With this motion, hand treatment fluid is ejected onto the base of the palm and both hands can be rubbed together to disperse the treatment.  
         [0065]    The type of plunger device  101  used on dish soap dispensers is shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0066]    A moveable plunger  103  is spring loaded and captivated by housing  105 . The preload spring  121  is seated against plunger  103  within cylinder  117 . Tube  127  extends into a fluid volume not shown. When the plunger  103  is depressed, air in volume  119  is impeded in downward flow by gravity check valve  125  having cage  123  and is promoted in upward flow through channel  107  past spring loaded check valve  113 . Upon release of plunger  103 , a partial vacuum is formed in volume  119  which pulls fluid up through aperture  129  of tube  127  into volume  119  and onward up through channel  107  and out aperture  115 . The tension of spring  109  is small, but sufficient to prevent unintended leakage of fluid. A miniature version of this plunger assembly can be fabricated for use as part of a plunger embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0067]    Pressure-Multiplying Plunger-Type Dispenser  
         [0068]    Analogous to the pressure-multiplying squeeze dispenser is a pressure-multiplying version of the plunger device. A cross-sectional view of this device is shown in FIG. 7 a . A moveable plunger  133  has a preload tension from spring  140  that maintains its normal extended position. Spring  140  is seated against structural fins  171  internal to the dispenser. The plunger  133  has a central channel  135  that accepts the introduction of tube  149  connected by fins  171  to the dispenser housing  165 , as plunger  133  is depressed. Cutouts  145  on the sides of plunger  133  admit the insertion of structural fins  171  which hold tube  149  in place. The lower portion of plunger  133  forms a cylinder  151  which houses a pressure-multiplying cylinder  159 . Upon depression of plunger  133 , the lower flange  157  of the plunger applies pressure to fluid volume  134  which in turn applies pressure to cylinder  159 . This results in the upward travel of pressure-multiplying cylinder  159  and the high pressure ejection of fluid along channel  167  and channel  135 , past check valve  141  and out through aperture  137 . As the plunger  133  is depressed, the perforations of air intake tube  146  are sealed. Upon release of actuation pressure, plunger  133  returns upward by virtue of spring  140  and cylinder  159  returns downward under then influence of spring  155 . Cylinder  159  refills with fluid as aperture  160  is in fluid communication with fluid volume  134 . Near the limit of return travel for plunger  133 , the perforations of air intake tube  146  are opened for air to refill volume  168 . A flexible membrane  158  at the base of fluid container  163  allows air pressure in volume  168  to equilibrate with fluid pressure in volume  134 . Retaining flange  152  limits the downward travel of cylinder  159 . In FIG. 7 b , the three-dimensional shape of plunger  133  is more clearly manifested. Shown are the cutout areas  145  which are penetrated by the structural fins  171  which hold tube  149  in fixed disposition with respect to the dispenser housing  165 .  
         [0069]    Other Dispenser Types  
         [0070]    Among other dispenser types are drip, pressurized, and pump-driven versions. Drip type dispensers are of limited practicality given that they are orientation sensitive. One way in which such a dispenser could be used involves actuating a shutoff valve. Various approaches well known in the prior art can be used to actuate the opening of such a valve by hand pressure. Subsequent to opening the valve, it is required to orient the dispenser to allow hand treatment to drip into the hand.  
         [0071]    Borrowing from the technology used in the fabrication of pressurized shaving cream dispensers, there are well known methods of producing gas-pressurized streams of liquids and gels. The dispenser exploiting gas pressurization could be a low profile metal, disposable cartridge that removably attaches to a wristband.  
         [0072]    Applicable miniature electromechanical schemes that could be used for ejecting hand treatment material are well known in the prior art. Foremost among electromechanical actuation methods is that of solenoid. The miniature solenoids used in ink jet printing can be applied to discharging small jets of fluid. Sufficient electrical energy for hundreds of actuations can be contained in small form factor batteries such as those of the disc lithium variety. Alternatively, miniature diaphragm pumps and piezoelectric pumps used for insulin delivery can be used for discharge of small jets of fluid. Finally, in the category of thermoelectric devices, Peltier effect devices can be used with working fluids or phase change materials to effect large pressure changes with modest electrically-induced temperature changes and thereby eject fluids upon initiation of current flow to the Peltier device. In all electrical methods, a consistent fixed dosage of ejected hand treatment material can be established by electronically fixing the duration of the governing voltage or current pulse. Remote control actuation is imminently feasible with commercially available low power consumption micro transmitters and receivers. There are numerous ways in which such remote control can be applied, typically using the free hand or other part of the body.  
         [0073]    Nozzle Configurations  
         [0074]    In the simplest embodiment, the nozzle of the present invention is of a fixed geometry. Other embodiments include retractable or extendible versions, as well as nozzles that can be adjusted in direction and those which allow selection of output flow type from streaming to spraying. Adjustable nozzles can be implemented for pressure multiplying dispensers with some increase in complexity over counterparts for non-pressure-multiplying dispensers.  
         [0075]    Typically, the nozzle of the present invention will be oriented so as to provide unobstructed dispensing of hand treatment to the hand in cases where the user is wearing a long-sleeved shirt or blouse, or a jacket. In situations where a garment might obstruct dispensing, it could be efficacious to have an extendible nozzle. An example of such a nozzle is shown in FIG. 8. A cylindrical nozzle body  201  is shown with ring embossments  203 . A complementary ring void  205  is present in the neck  207  of the dispenser so that longitudinal motion of the nozzle body  201  relative to the dispenser neck  207  establishes a fixed number of detint positions.  
         [0076]    As dictated by the preference of a user of the invention, the type of flow of dispensed material can be selected in an embodiment with flow control means. Numerous prior art examples of variable flow nozzles are extant in the patent literature; examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,843,030, 3,967,765, and 4,234,128. These nozzle designs exhibit variable flow channel geometry. An attending alteration in the flow from a streaming to spraying nature occurs upon rotation of one of the component members of the nozzle relative to the other. In FIG. 9, this type of nozzle is shown in the context of the present invention. A fixed nozzle component  223  is attached to the dispenser body  221 . Rotation of the moveable nozzle component  225  results in variation in the type of flow. In such an implementation, the flow channel is segmented into two portions and the alignment of a particular cross-sectional geometry of each of these portions of the channel is used to adjust the nature of the flow. Another method of varying the type of flow is that used in typical garden hose nozzles in which a flow output aperture is variably occluded by the longitudinal translation of a conical member with its apex directed into the flow output aperture by a screwing motion.  
         [0077]    While there have been shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention can be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically illustrated and described and that, within such embodiments certain changes in the detail and configuration of this invention, and in the form and arrangements of the components of this invention, can be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.