The present invention relates to hand sanitizers, and more particularly to hand sanitizer dispensers
In dry environments, not retaining cleanliness can often pose a threat of infection through physical contact, as well as the spread of blood-born pathogens and other infectious agents. In such environments where water is scarce, it is desirable to save water for consumption rather than using it for acts of hygiene and conventional manners of sanitation (e.g., washing with water and anti-microbial soaps, etc.).
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a dispenser for dispensing hand sanitizer powder including a base, a container supported on the base and including the hand sanitizer powder therein, and a tray coupled to the base beneath the container. The tray includes an opening. The dispenser also includes a body at least partially positioned within the tray and rotatable about an axis. The body includes at least one compartment exposed to an outer periphery of the body. The body is rotatable between a first position, in which the compartment is in facing relationship with the container to receive the hand sanitizer powder therefrom, and a second position, in which the compartment is aligned with the opening in the tray for dispensing the hand sanitizer powder through the opening.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, an anti-microbial powder including about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of an anti-microbial compound, about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of a fumed silica, and water.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
With reference to
The container 18 also includes a handle 46 to facilitate placing the container 18 upon the base 14 and removing the container 18 from the base 14. In the illustrated embodiment of the dispenser 10, the handle 46 is located on a front surface 50 of the container 18 and integrally formed with the container 18 as a single piece. Alternatively, the handle 46 may be located on another surface of the container 18 (e.g., the top surface), or the handle 46 may be formed as a separate component from the container 18 and attached to the container 18 in any of a number of different manners (e.g., using fasteners, by welding, etc.). Also, in the illustrated embodiment of the dispenser 10, the container 18 is supported atop the base 14 in an unsecured manner (i.e., without being positively retained to the base 14). The weight of the filled container 18, the complementary contours of the lower and upper surfaces 42, 30 of the container 18 and the base 14, respectively, and peripheral walls 54 surrounding the upper surface 30 of the base 14 all cooperate to stabilize the container 18 atop the base 14. Alternatively, quick-disconnect structure may be employed to selectively positively retain the container 18 to the base 14.
With reference to
With reference to
The length of each of the paddles 102 is sized such that the radially outer tips of the respective paddles 102 are engageable with the inner peripheral surface 66 of the tray 58 as the paddle wheel 94 is rotated within the tray 58 about an axis 104. As such, a combination of the side walls 70 and the inner peripheral surface 66 of the tray 58 blocks or inhibits hand sanitizer powder from exiting a particular compartment 90a-90d when the paddle wheel 94 is rotated from a first position, in which the particular compartment 90a-90d is in facing relationship with the container 18 to receive the hand sanitizer powder, to a second position, in which the compartment 90a-90d is aligned with the opening 62 in the tray 58 for dispensing the hand sanitizer powder through the opening 62.
With reference to
With reference to
With continued reference to
In operation of the dispenser 10, the compartment 90a is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the frame of reference of
As previously mentioned, operation of the dispenser 10 is automatic. The sensor 110 detects an individual's hands beneath the opening 62 in the tray 58 and activates the motor 106 for rotating the paddle wheel 94 90 degrees. After the paddle wheel 94 is rotated 90 degrees, the motor 106 is deactivated until the sensor 110 detects another individual's hands beneath the opening 62 in the tray 58.
Should the container 18 be completely emptied, one need only to grasp the container handle 46, lift the container 18 from the base 14, and replace the empty container 18 with a full container 18. As such, the container 18 may be quickly replaced without using any tools (e.g., a key for unlocking an otherwise locked housing).
The anti-microbial hand sanitizer powder used with either of the dispensers comprises an anti-microbial compound, a fumed silica, and water. The active anti-microbial compound may comprise a quaternary compound, a non-ionic compound, chlorhexidine dihydrochloride, hexamidine diisethionate, polyaminopropyl biguanine, or any combination thereof. Examples of quaternary compounds include, without limitation, at least one of benzethonium chloride benzalkonium chloride, and combinations thereof. Examples of non-ionic compounds include, without limitation, at least one of benzyl alcohol, triclosan and a combination thereof. The amount of anti-microbial compound in the powder may be about 0.05% to about 5% by weight, for example, about 0.06% to about 2.5% by weight, about 0.08% to about 1% by weight, and about 0.09% to about 0.4% by weight. In some embodiments, the amount of anti-microbial compound in the powder can be at least about 0.05% by weight, at least about 0.1% by weight, at least about 0.8% by weight, up to about 0.1% by weight, up to about 1% by weight, up to about 2.5% by weight, up to about 5% by weight, or about 0.1% by weight.
The fumed silica may be hydrophobic. Examples of fumed silica include, without limitation, fumed silicas sold under the tradename AEROSIL by Evonik Industries of Parsippany, N.J. Examples include, without limitation, at least one of AEROSIL R812S, R812, R972, R974 and a combination thereof, all commercially available from EVONIK Industries of Parsippany, N.J. Examples of fumed silicas include silanamines. The amount of fumed silica in the powder can be about 0.5% to about 15% by weight, for example, about 1% to about 13% by weight, about 2% to about 10% by weight, and about 3% to about 7% by weight. In some embodiments, the amount of fumed silica in the powder can be at least about 0.5% by weight, at least about 1% by weight, at least about 5% by weight, up to about 2% by weight, up to about 5% by weight, up to about 10% by weight, up to about 15% by weight, or about 5% by weight.
The water used in making the hand sanitizer powder may be deionized. The amount of water in the powder can be about 75% to about 98% by weight, for example, about 80% to about 98% by weight, about 85% to about 97% by weight, and about 90% to about 96% by weight. In some embodiments, the amount of water in the powder can be at least about 75% by weight, at least about 80% by weight, at least about 95% by weight, up to about 80% by weight, up to about 85% by weight, up to about 95% by weight, up to about 98% by weight, or about 94.9% by weight.
The hand sanitizer powder may have a density of about 10 pounds per cubic foot to about 45 pounds per cubic foot, about 15 pounds per cubic foot to about 40 pounds per cubic foot, 20 pounds per cubic foot to about 35 pounds per cubic foot, or about 25 pounds per cubic foot to about 30 pounds per cubic foot. For example, the hand sanitizer powder may have a density of at least about 15 pounds per cubic foot, at least about 25 pounds per cubic foot, at least about 35 pounds per cubic foot, up to about 15 pounds per cubic foot, up to about 30 pounds per cubic foot, or up to 45 pounds per cubic foot. In one embodiment, the hand sanitizer powder has a density of 27.5 pounds per cubic foot and is a white, free-flowing powder like material. In a 1% aqueous solution, the powder has a pH of about 5.0 to about 6.5.
The hand sanitizer powder may be prepared using a commercial blender. The components may be mixed in any order. In one embodiment, the anti-microbial compound may be mixed with deionized water until the compound dissolves. The fumed silica may then be added and mixed until free-flowing powder is produced. All percentages expressed herein are by weight unless explicitly described otherwise.
The anti-microbial hand sanitizer powder was prepared using the following process. First, 94.9 grams of deionized water was placed in a commercially available blender at 25° C. Then, 0.10 grams of benzethonium chloride was added to the water. Benzethonium chloride is commercially available as LONZAGARD Benzethonium Chloride USP from Lonza, Inc. of Mapleton, Ill. LONZAGARD Benzethonium Chloride USP is also known by the chemical name Disobutylphenoxyethoxyethyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride monohydrate (C27H42C1NO2 H2O; CAS No. 121-54-0). The water and benzethonium chloride were mixed until the benzethonium chloride completely dissolved. Then, 5.00 grams of AEROSIL R812S was added to the blender. AEROSIL R812S is commercially available from EVONIK Industries of Parsippany, NJ and is also known by the chemical name silanamine,1,1,1-trimethyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)-, hydrolysis products with silica (CAS-No. 68909-20-6). The mixture was mixed in the blender for 1 to 5 minutes at high speed to form a free-flowing powder. The resulting powder had the following composition:
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/456,244 filed on Nov. 3, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US11/59157 | 11/3/2011 | WO | 00 | 5/2/2013 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61456244 | Nov 2010 | US |