Hand washing and disinfecting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hand washing and disinfecting device comprising a hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module and a hand washing and disinfecting solution spraying module, a nozzle, and a controller adapted to trigger the preparation of the washing and disinfecting solution when needed as well as the spraying of the hand washing and disinfecting solution through said nozzle upon detection of a body in front of the nozzle, and characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module comprises an electrolyzing system adapted to prepare the hand washing and disinfecting solution by electrolyzing a solution inside a replaceable tank installed in the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module.

Description

[0001] HAND WASHING AND DISINFECTING DEVICE

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a hand washing and disinfecting device and to a hand washing and disinfecting solution preparation method. More particularly, the device of the present invention is adapted to prepare and distribute particular solutions for washing and disinfecting hands in a limited time period.

[0004] Background of the art

[0005] Hygiene has always been a crucial aspect of social living as it has a deep impact on the health condition of human beings. Among the broad aspect of the term hygiene, of course, hand washing is probably the most common gesture around the world.

[0006] Hand washing is a gesture which can be repeated several times in a single day. Each hand washing process requires a certain amount of time and water.

[0007] This therefore leads to a huge waste of precious material such as water.

[0008] This is why it is of most importance to find ways to enhance the efficiency of water consumption during washing hands, especially in certain zones of the globe where water is a seldom commodity or in certain area such as medical centers where hand washing is often repeated.

[0009] Therefore, there exists a need for a hand washing system capable of rapidly and efficiently washing and disinfecting the hands while using the very minimum time and water.

[0010] In this regard, a primary object of the invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and more particularly to provide a device and a method adapted to automatically prepare and distribute specific solutions for washing hands in a limited time. Another object of the invention is to provide a device and a method adapted to automatically measure and adapt the composition of the washing fluid before use.

[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a device and a method adapted to prepare and distribute particular solutions for washing hands in a limited time period

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] The above problems are solved by the present invention which is a hand washing and disinfecting device comprising a hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing and storing module, a nozzle and a controller adapted to trigger the spraying of the hand washing and disinfecting solution through said nozzle upon detection of a body in front of the nozzle, and characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing and storing module comprises an electrolyzing system adapted to prepare the hand washing and disinfecting solution.

[0014] Advantageously, the hand washing and disinfecting solution is a NaOCI solution prepared from the electrolysis of water and NaCI.

[0015] Preferably, the electrolyzing system comprises an electrolytic probe provided inside said hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing and storing module and connected to a power source.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hand washing and disinfecting device further comprises an embedded NaOCI concentration measurement system.

[0017] Advantageously, the embedded NaOCI concentration measurement system is adapted to measure a current crossing said solution proportional to the chlorine salt concentration in the hand washing and disinfecting solution.

[0018] In a preferred manner, the controller deactivates hand washing and disinfecting solution spraying before a predetermined NaOCI concentration is measured. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hand washing and disinfecting device further comprises a timer adapted to measure the spraying time.

[0019] Even more preferably, the device comprises a volume measurement module composed of a turbine through which the water passes. The number of quarter turns is then measured by using magnets fixed on the blades and a Hall effect sensor so as to measure the quantity of water sprayed.

[0020] Preferably, the controller is adapted to control a pumping system to pump and spray a predetermined hand washing and disinfecting solution quantity of maximum five ml during maximum five seconds.

[0021] In a preferred manner, the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing and storing module comprises a replaceable bottle.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hand washing and disinfecting device further comprises a status indicating system adapted to inform a user whether said device is operational or not.

[0023] Advantageously, the status indicating system is red / green light system lighting red when the handwashing solution is under preparation and green when the NaOCI concentration is acceptable.

[0024] Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Further particular advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following non-limitative description of at least one embodiment of the invention which will refer to the accompanying drawings, wherein

[0026] Figure 1 represents a schematic cut front view of the device of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 schematically represents a solution preparing module of the present invention with the replaceable tank and the Cistus Ladaniferus PVA gel carrier and the embedded NaOCI concentration measurement system of the device of the present invention; and

[0028] Figure 3 schematically represents a solution spraying module of the present invention with the sterilizing UVC lights for total disinfection.

[0029] Detailed description of the invention

[0030] The present detailed description is intended to illustrate the invention in a non- limitative manner since any feature of an embodiment may be combined with any other feature of a different embodiment in an advantageous manner.

[0031] The problems described in the prior art description above are solved by the present invention which is schematically illustrated in Figure 1 showing the first aspect of the invention which is a hand washing and disinfecting device 1 comprising a hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module 2 and a hand washing and disinfecting solution spraying module 3, which be simply called solution preparing module 2 and solution spraying module 3 in the following.

[0032] We can see that the hand washing and disinfecting device 1 also comprises a nozzle 4 and a controller 5 adapted to control the solution preparing module 2 to prepare the solution when needed and to control the solution spraying module 3 to spray the solution through the nozzle 4 upon detection of a body, preferably hands, in a cavity 10 in front of the nozzle 4. The nozzle 4 is specifically adapted to provide a controlled flow rate with improved atomization and a uniform spraying.

[0033] As we can see in Figures 1 and 3, the solution spraying module 3 comprises a tank 22 storing the hand washing and disinfecting solution and a fluidic circuit from the tank 22 to the nozzle 4 comprising a pumping system 12 and an optional flowmeter 13. The solution may therefore be advantageously sprayed from the tank 22 to the hands through the nozzle 4 upon command of the controller 5.

[0034] The solution preparing module 2 preferably comprises an embedded electrolyzing system 21 capable of preparing the hand washing and disinfecting solution automatically when it detects that a new replaceable tank of water 22 has been installed in the module 2 or when a user commands so.

[0035] The solution spraying module 3 of the present invention also comprises one or several means for sterilizing said hand washing and disinfecting solution. One of this means comprises some specific light, especially UVC lights or tubes 11 which provide UVC light to said solution. These lights 11 can be provided inside the fluidic circuit such as just before or just after the pumping system 12, but can also be provided outside the circuit such as in the cavity 10 where a user puts its hand so the light both sterilizes the solution and the hands. In such case, it is important to note that the lights inside the device, such as after between the pumping system 12 and the nozzle 4, emit a light which less intense than the lights outside such as in the cavity 10 such that nothing is harmed inside the device 1 but the solution is still well sterilized.

[0036] On its side, the solution preparing module 2 preferably comprises an embedded electrolyzing system 21 capable of preparing the hand washing and disinfecting solution automatically when it detects that a new replaceable tank of water 22 has been installed in the module 2 or when a user commands so. The electrolyzing system 21 is adapted to prepare the hand washing and disinfecting solution thanks to the electrolysis of water, PVA gel, Cistus Ladaniferus and NaCI in the replaceable tank.

[0037] This electrolyzing system 21 will now be described in detail with reference to figure 2.

[0038] As we can see, the electrolyzing system 21 comprises an electrolytic probe 6 provided inside a replaceable tank 22, such as a bottle or a cartridge, and connected to a power source (not shown). Upon use, the replaceable tank 22 filled with fresh water is first installed in the device such that the probe 6 is provided inside it. At that moment a container or a carrier, such as a PVA gel pellet or a PVA gel foil 221 is added which contains salt and also preferably containing Cistus Ladaniferus which is useful for treating various diseases and health issues due to its antioxidant, gastric, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties. The PVA gel container or carrier 221 dissolves in water such that the tank The tank 22 is filled with water, Cistus Ladaniferus and salt in a proportion such as 5 g NaCI per liter of water for example, and then the mix is electrolyzed during a predetermined period for preparing an NaOCI solution, for example between 20 and 30 minutes, until a desirable NaOCI concentration is reached to provide the solution with acceptable cleaning and disinfecting properties. In order to be biodegradable, the tank is preferably made of cardboard.

[0039] In order to stop the electrolysis correctly, the presence of a NaOCI concentration measurement system is highly appreciated.

[0040] Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the invention where the hand washing and disinfecting device 1 further comprises such as embedded NaOCI concentration measurement system which is adapted to measure a current crossing the NaOCI solution preferably before or at the start of the electrolysis to define the initial salt concentration and based on the result to define an electrolysis duration to reach the acceptable concentration.

[0041] This current being proportional to the chlorine salt concentration in the hand washing and disinfecting solution, the measured current is processed to measure said chlorine salt concentration and informs the controller when the desired concentration is reached so as to automatically stop the electrolysis and activate the solution spraying module 3. Depending on the device, when the electrolysis is finished, a human action is then necessary to move the tank 22 from the solution preparing module 2 and install it in the solution spraying module 3 such that the device is in order for use. In such case, a single replaceable tank 22 is sufficient which is moved between the two modules. Alternatively, this can be done automatically with a transfer of the solution from the tank in the module 2 to the other tank in module 3, through a microfluidic circuitry for example, and the tank of module 2 is then refiled with tap water and a new PVA gel carrier 221 is added before a new electrolysis.

[0042] The NaOCI concentration is of course important, but another important aspect of the invention which permits to correctly wash and disinfect the hand of a user is its capacity of spraying the right amount of solution on to the hands. In order to be able to do this, the device 1 preferably comprises a system capable of measuring the exact quantity of solution which is pumped from the bottle and sprayed.

[0043] An embodiment which is preferred shows the device comprising a volume measurement module 13 such as a controlled flowmeter, composed of a turbine, through which the water passes. The number of turns or half turns or quarter turns is then measured by using magnets fixed on the blades and a Hall effect sensor so as to measure the quantity of water sprayed.

[0044] In order to be water safe and water efficient, the controller 4 is adapted to control a pumping system 12 at, for example a pressure of ten bars, to pump and spray a predetermined hand washing and disinfecting solution quantity of maximum five milliliters during maximum five seconds.

[0045] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the hand washing and disinfecting device may further comprise a status indicating system 9. This status indicating system 9 shall inform a user whether said device is operational or not.

[0046] Advantageously, the status indicating system 9 is a red / green LED light system lighting red when the handwashing solution is under preparation and green when the NaOCI concentration is acceptable and the device is ready for use. For achieving this result, it is preferable that the indicating system 9 is controlled by the controller which lights green when the NaOCI concentration measurement system measures an acceptable concentration.

[0047] A second status indicating system 8, which is also a LED light system, shall inform a user whether said device is switched on or not.

[0048] While the embodiments have been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, this disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the scope of this disclosure. This for example particularly the case regarding the different applications which include the use of the device in hospitals, in refugee camps, in airports or in restaurants for example.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) comprising a hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module (2) and a hand washing and disinfecting solution spraying module (3), a nozzle (4), and a controller (5) adapted to trigger the preparation of the washing and disinfecting solution when needed as well as the spraying of the hand washing and disinfecting solution through said nozzle (3) upon detection of a body in front of the nozzle (4), characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module (2) comprises an electrolyzing system (21 ) adapted to prepare the hand washing and disinfecting solution by electrolyzing a solution inside a replaceable tank (22) installed in the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module (2).

2. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution is an NaOCI solution prepared from the electrolysis of water and NaCI.

3. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution is prepared from the electrolysis of water in which a PVA gal carrier (221) comprising NaCI and Cistus Ladaniferus has been added.

4. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1 ) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that said electrolyzing system (21 ) comprises an electrolytic probe (6) provided inside the replaceable tank (22) and connected to a power source.

5. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1 ) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module (2) further comprises an embedded NaOCI concentration measurement system.

6. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the embedded NaOCI concentration measurement system is adapted to measure a current crossing said solution proportional to the chlorine salt concentration in the hand washing and disinfecting solution.

7. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1 ) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a volume measurement module (13) preferably including a timer adapted, with controlled Flow meter to measure the spraying time and a spraying quantity.

8. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the volume measurement module (13) is composed of a turbine through which the water passes, where the number of quarter turns is measured by using magnets fixed on the blades and a Hall effect sensor.

9. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1 ) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (5) is adapted to control a pumping system (12) to pump a predetermined hand washing and disinfecting solution quantity of maximum five ml during maximum five seconds.

10. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the hand washing and disinfecting solution is stored in the replaceable tank (22) can be moved between the hand washing and disinfecting solution preparing module (2) and the hand washing and disinfecting solution spraying module (3).

11. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a status indicating system (9) adapted to inform a user whether said device is operational or not.

12. Hand washing and disinfecting device (1 ) according to claim 11 , characterized in that said status indicating system (9) is red / green light system lighting red when the handwashing solution is under preparation and green when the NaOCI concentration is acceptable.

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