U.S. patent application number 11/294072 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for hand sanitizing packet and methods.
Invention is credited to William Anthony Harper.
Application Number | 20060081648 11/294072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33564106 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060081648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harper; William Anthony |
April 20, 2006 |
Hand sanitizing packet and methods
Abstract
Described are methods and apparatus for promoting and attaining
effective hand hygiene based on the employment of a class of
packaging which provides timely access to and convenient use of
hand sanitizing fluids for hand rubbing. A specific and novel type
of package representative of this class found to be particularly
useful in facilitating this method is a small, flat, disposable,
twin chambered, multi-dose, self-sealing polymer packet designed to
be pocket carried by the user. Through simple and direct finger
manipulation a measured dose of hand sanitizing fluid is drawn on
to the hand in a controlled and wasteless manner from a metering
chamber opened for dispersal through a tear in the packet wall. The
self-sealing packet reserves and preserves the remaining fluid for
future uses and permits the packet to be immediately returned to a
pocket without any closure manipulation. Rubbing the hands to
distribute the fluid achieves an effective degree of hand
sanitation by substantially reducing the presence of hand-borne
pathogens. Distribution of the packets is encouraged by the use of
lottery and gaming techniques that heighten the opportunity of
using a hand sanitizing fluid for proper hand hygiene.
Inventors: |
Harper; William Anthony;
(Redmond, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William Harper
16541 Redmond Way, PMB 140
Redmond
WA
98052-4492
US
|
Family ID: |
33564106 |
Appl. No.: |
11/294072 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10602448 |
Jun 24, 2003 |
7004354 |
|
|
11294072 |
Dec 5, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/30 20130101;
B65D 75/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/107 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/14 20060101
B65D035/14 |
Claims
1. A method of hand sanitizing, comprising: A pocket packet
containing multiple doses of hand sanitizing fluid; said packet
employs a self-sealing means to reseal said packet after a dose
dispersement; dispensing by manipulation of said packet said dose
of said fluid to hands harboring pathogens; and, rubbing hands to
disperse said dose of said hand sanitizing fluid to effectively
reduce hand-borne pathogens thereon.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the material forming said packet
is flexible polymeric material.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said material is sufficiently
transparent to allow viewing of said fluid contained within said
packet to aid in said manipulation of said fluid.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said material is sufficiently
transparent to permit a visual determination of the quantity,
location, quality, color, and/or other visible property of said
fluid.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said sanitizing
fluid contained in said packet is typically 2 to 8-milliliters.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said manipulation is purposeful
pressure and/or tension applied to move and disperse said
fluid.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said self-sealing means is a
self-forming choke restricting fluid flow.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said packet is carried in a
backpack, belt pack, briefcase, computer case, garment, lanyard
attachment, lunchbox, lunch bag, notebook, purse, pocket, sports
bag, tool box, telephone carrier, wrist band and combinations
thereof.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said packet is distributed in
circumstances selected from a group consisting of air travel,
assemblages, barrooms, business dealings, checkout counters,
conventions, cruise ships, disaster relief, educational facilities,
elder care facilities, expeditions, financial institutions, food
services, ground transportation, health clinics, hospitals,
livestock events, lodgings, malls, manufacturing facilities,
meetings, military installations, offices, parties, political
gatherings, potlucks, prisons, promotional events, public events,
public facilities, religious services, rest homes, schools, service
counters, shops, sporting events, theaters, toilet facilities,
zoos, and combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said packet bears a promotional
marking design to increase distribution and/or retention wherein
said marking is selected from a group consisting of addresses,
advertising messages, call numbers, codes, company names, event
commemorations, event dates, decorative art, facility names,
formulas, fortune predictions, gaming symbols, instructions,
internet addresses, logos, lottery numbers, lottery symbols,
meaningful communications, meaningful images, notations,
promotional slogans, raffle numbers, schedules, trademarks, and
combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one surface area and/or
part of said packet is opaque to facilitate the reading or
deciphering of said marking on said packet.
12. A method of hand sanitizing, comprising: a pocket packet
containing multiple doses of hand sanitizing fluid; said packet
employs a measuring means to select a dose of said fluid;
dispensing by manipulation of said packet said dose of said fluid
to hands harboring pathogens; and, rubbing hands to disperse said
dose of said hand sanitizing fluid to effectively reduce hand-borne
pathogens thereon.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said measuring means are first
and second chambers designed to select and dispense said dose.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said packet is sufficiently
transparent to allow viewing of said fluid contained within said
packet to aid in said manipulation of said fluid.
15. A method of hand sanitizing, comprising: A pocket packet
containing multiple doses of hand sanitizing fluid; said packet
bears a mark to increases the opportunity of said packet being
available to dispense a dose of said fluid when and where needed;
dispensing by manipulation of said packet said dose of said fluid
to hands harboring pathogens; and, rubbing hands to disperse said
dose of said hand sanitizing fluid to effectively reduce hand-borne
pathogens thereon.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said mark is selected from a
group consisting of addresses, advertising messages, call numbers,
codes, company names, event commemorations, event dates, decorative
art, facility names, formulas, fortune predictions, gaming symbols,
instructions, internet addresses, logos, lottery numbers, lottery
symbols, meaningful communications, meaningful images, notations,
promotional slogans, raffle numbers, schedules, trademarks, and
combinations thereof.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said packet is distributed in
circumstances selected from a group consisting of air travel,
assemblages, barrooms, business dealings, checkout counters,
conventions, cruise ships, disaster relief, educational facilities,
elder care facilities, expeditions, financial institutions, food
services, ground transportation, health clinics, hospitals,
livestock events, lodgings, malls, manufacturing facilities,
meetings, military installations, offices, parties, political
gatherings, potlucks, prisons, promotional events, public events,
public facilities, religious services, rest homes, schools, service
counters, shops, sporting events, theaters, toilet facilities,
zoos, and combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein said packet is carried in a
backpack, belt pack, briefcase, computer case, garment, lanyard
attachment, lunchbox, lunch bag, notebook, purse, pocket, sports
bag, tool box, telephone carrier, wrist band and combinations
thereof.
Description
[0001] This is a Divisional application of parent application Ser.
No. 10/602,448 filed Jun. 24, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to hand sanitation apparatus
and methods making the dispensing of a hand sanitizing fluid both
timely and convenient. More particularly the present invention
relates to the easy use features of small disposable multidose
packets inconspicuously carried by a user and methods promoting
their at hand availability which contribute to their timely use in
reducing hand-borne pathogens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is well understood that microbiological pathogens on the
hands transferred to other body parts such as the mouth, nose and
eyes are the primary cause of infectious disease in humans. The
actual scope of the damage caused by infections resulting from
hand-borne pathogens is generally less known. Fully eighty percent
of all infections ranging from the usually benign cold and more
debilitating flu to the truly horrific deadly Ebola, and everything
in between, are transmitted by touch. The average American will
contract two to four cold or flu infections in a typical year,
experience four to six significant gastrointestinal disruptions
during the same period. Colds alone account for an annual loss of
300 million person days of work and school annually; flus cost
Americans $10 billion a year in lost wages and medical expenditures
in addition to the 20,000 to 50,000 deaths each year from
complications of influenza infections. Additionally, over and above
the readily recognized cause and effect of the rapid onset of
miseries characterized by the likes of a Norwalk virus attack,
there is a growing body of evidence and in some cases solid proof
that many major chronic diseases like gastric ulcers, stomach
cancer, heart disease, cervical cancer, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease),
and Alzheimer's, most characterized by a much delayed onset, are
infectious germ-based diseases that follow the same hand-based
route into the body as the common cold rhinovirus. The scope of
this generally unrecognized hidden plague associated with
infectious diseases has been discussed for years within the medical
community and more recently has found its way into the popular
press, Atlantic Monthly, February 1999, ("A New Germ Theory"). It
is sobering to realize the risk of a hand-borne infection is not
just the occasional case of the sniffles but possibly the source of
a life-long debilitating disease, a crippling condition leading to
an early death, or most terrible, a tragic living death strangling
all hope and affection. For years the famed Mayo Clinic has used
the following blunt slogan in an attempt to drive home a point
about the need for effective hand hygiene to combat serious
diseases: "The ten worst sources of contagion are our fingers."
[0004] Each year more than 2 million hospital acquired (nosocomial)
infections occur in the United States, costing some $4.5 billion in
additional charges. The Centers for Disease Control estimates more
than one-third of healthcare associated infections can be prevented
through better infection control programs of which hand cleaning is
the centerpiece for reducing the spread of infection. Hospitals are
only one of many organizations burdened with hand-borne disease
costs. A recent school study found that classrooms that made hand
sanitizing fluid dispensers simply available for use showed a 20%
reduction in student absenteeism due to illness as well as a 10%
decrease in teacher absenteeism. Several recent articles provide an
understanding of the current level of technology available for hand
sanitation and further describe the significant limiting problems
the present art faces.
[0005] In March 2001 an American Journal of Nursing article
("Impact Rate of Compliance with Hand Antisepsis . . . ") stated
that 80,000 hospital deaths occur each year as a result of
nosocomial infections contracted during their stays. Further, that
"it's common knowledge that the hands of heath care workers can
carry disease-causing organisms from one patient to another and
that hand antisepsis before and after each patent contact is
crucial to the prevention and control of nosocomial infection." The
reasons most often cited by hospital staff for failing to clean
their hands adequately are inconvenience and no time. Given the
hectic and demanding nature of their workload these are not excuses
but simply statements of reality. That convenience and time are
critical factors in maintaining hand sanitation is underscored by
the finding in this study that placing hand sanitizing fluid
dispensers "in the hallways outside patient rooms were nearly 30
times more likely to be used than dispensers mounted anywhere
inside the rooms." Yet the most disturbing finding of this study
was that full compliance with hand antisepsis guidelines was an
unrealistic goal. That while hand sanitizing fluids took less time
than washing and the placement of numerous dispensers bottles made
matters somewhat more convenient, even with the heightened
attention impact of the study itself (the Hawthorne effect),
compliance did not achieve more than 60% at any time during the
study. And it is well understood that over time, after the study is
done and gone, a drift back to much lower compliance rates is
inevitable, the dispenser bottle becomes just one more thing in the
room, like soap at the sink, rarely used and only when time and
convenience allowed.
[0006] In March 2002 an article in Infection Control and Hospital
Epidemiology ("Promotion of Hand Hygiene: Magic, Hype, or
Scientific Challenge? ") restates the conditions for promoting
adequate hand hygiene. "Among enabling factors, engineering control
must be considered for the successful promotion of hand hygiene. In
particular, it involves making hand hygiene easy, convenient, and
possible in a timely fashion." Another observation made is that the
higher rates of compliance seen in studies can only be sustained
when some form of cost-effective, non-intrusive monitoring is
invented. "My personal opinion is that obtaining a sustained and
never-ending Hawthorne effect associated with improved compliance
with hand hygiene and decreased infection and cross-transmission
rates should be the dream of every hospital epidemiologist. Let's
find a cost-effective way to induce it." This need remains yet
unfilled in the marketplace and published art.
[0007] In July 2000 another article in Infection Control and
Hospital Epidemiology ("Using Alcohol for Hand
Antisepsis--Dispelling Old Myths") the qualities and values of
alcohol-based hand antiseptics are described. The author points out
the cost benefits of hand sanitizing fluids in hospitals. " . . .
administrators should consider that modest increase in acquisition
costs for alcohol-based hand hygiene products are tiny in
comparison to excess hospital costs associated with nosocomial
infections. If increased use of an alcohol gel or rinse reduces the
number of serious nosocomial infections by a few a year, the cost
savings from prevented infections should more than offset
incremental costs of using alcohol-based preparations." These
offset costs are those the hospital would charge as operational
costs. Not considered are the much more substantial costs of the
damage awards issuing from pain and suffering lawsuits won by
patient and their attorneys for the hospital's failure to follow
best practice protocols.
[0008] In March 2001 an article in Emerging Infectious Diseases
("Antiseptic Technology: Access, Affordability, and Acceptance")
further reinforces the findings that time and convenience are
critical compliance factors. Detailed costs of implementing a hand
hygiene program are also provided.
[0009] A final article in the October 2000 issue of Family Medicine
("Alcohol-free Instant Hand Sanitizer Reduces Elementary School
Illness Absenteeism") reports a remarkable reduction in absenteeism
when hand sanitizers were introduced in public school classrooms.
Results showed students using hand sanitizing fluids "were found to
have 41.9% fewer illness-related absence days, representing a 28.9%
and a 49.7% drop in gastrointestinal- and respiratory-related
illness, respectively . . . Conclusion: Daily use of the instant
hand sanitizer was associated with significantly lower rates of
illness-related absenteeism." In this study the close monitoring
and continual instruction of the test group by teachers largely
abrogated the issues of time and convenience. Nevertheless, it
clearly indicates the significant impact consistent and rigorous
hand sanitation can have in schools and the implications for
parallel benefits at all levels of society are obvious. As the
reports point out in describing the interlinking cost of disease
"Even if one doesn't have school-age children, it is necessary to
understand the importance and benefits of good hand hygiene, not
only in clinical practice but also in the greater community. Vital
tax dollars will be saved on expenses for remedial student services
and employee work time by this simple and effective way to decrease
illness-related absenteeism."
[0010] That improved hand hygiene can be achieved by using various
hand sanitizing fluids is beyond question, the problems preventing
this known technique for achieving a high degree of use
(compliance) are equally understood as being time required and
convenience use. These same twin factors are true in the vastly
greater pool of the general population, with the addition of a
third very important factor--easy availability to achieve timely
use, in a word, timeliness. In hospitals and schools availability
is defined in terms of convenience and it has been repeatedly shown
the placement of bottle dispensers in rooms, particularly by a
door, leads to statistically significantly improvements in hand
hygiene and related disease. It has also been shown that recidivism
is immediate when compliance monitoring stops. For the general
population an approach emphasizing wide distribution, ready access,
convenient use, inconspicuous, omnipresence, and timely
applications are key factors. The state of the art as defined by
the marketplace and patent literature does not provide either
methods or devices that adequately respond to these requirements.
Dispensers hung on walls or set on counters have proven only
marginally effective in even the controlled environments of
hospitals and schools; in public their effectiveness rating falls
to near zero. The answer lies in development of an inexpensive,
disposable, multi-dose, small, convenient, self-sealing,
ubiquitous, inconspicuous, and pocket carried packet dispenser of
hand sanitizing fluid that can be accessed in a timely manner and
reused several times during the course of a day's normal
activities. Successful methods promoting the wide distribution of
such packets would contribute to eventual habitual use.
[0011] There are only two types of pocket carried hand sanitizing
fluid dispensers known to be currently offered in the marketplace.
The first type is represented by a small bottle containing a 62%
ethyl alcohol antimicrobial agent manufactured by Gojo Industries
(http://66.181.86.144/cgi-bin/gojo/). It is a 15-milliliter
translucent thermoformed bottle of hand sanitizing fluid with a
snap cap closure with overall dimensions of 5.times.2.5.times.1.5
centimeters and some 18 cubic centimeters in volume. Dispersement
is accomplished by popping open the snap lid, squeezing or shaking
out several drops into an open hand, recapping the bottle, and
returning it to a pocket. This dispenser has been in the
marketplace since at least 1997. A second dispenser type that
irregularly appears in the marketplace is a single-use metal foil
packet containing 1.5-millilters of 60% ethyl alcohol with various
herbal extracts and sometimes various emollients. Lafayette
Promotional (http://216.223.163.4/products/hand_gel_packets.htm) is
one of several distributors of this packet form. The foil packet
typically measures 5.times.7.5.times.0.3 centimeters with a volume
of about 2 cubic centimeters. Dispensing is accomplished by tearing
the foil at a corner edge, pouring or squeezing out the fluid, and
discarding the empty foil package. Both types of products appears
to have achieved a degree of success in the marketplace as
evidenced by their continued presence on the web, of the two the
bottle is overwhelming more commonly found. There are literally
dozens of other suppliers offering the same types of
dispensers.
[0012] Why these two packaging styles have not met with more
success in a potentially huge market has likely more to do with
fashion, habit and convenient access than a failure of the public
to appreciate the health threat poised by hand-borne pathogens.
Many people understand and appreciate the need for clean hands but
just fall far short in practice. It has proven so inconvenient to
perform the frequent and necessarily timely hand rubbings that
provide an effective level of protection that the habit has simply
never become established in any significant population group. In
the case of the bottle its size, particularly its thickness,
creates such a noticeable bulge in a shirt or pants pocket that it
makes a negative fashion statement only equaled by pocket
protectors in high school; further, the highly visible process
involved in handling the bottle during the act of dispensing
definitely conveys an unfortunate phobic impression about the user.
Despite the efforts of hundreds of school boards across the nation
not even elementary kids could be persuaded to carry and regularly
use these small bottles; it just isn't fashionable and certainly
less than cool. In the case of the single-use foil packet the need
to carry several, typically four to seven a day, plus the need to
discard an empty packet each time, severely works against public
acceptance. Further, the need for the antimicrobial material to be
necessarily runny in order to be easily extracted from the opaque
foil packet leads to loss of the material from the hand through
accidental runoff, and increasing the viscosity leads to
significant difficulty in emptying the foil packet in a expedient
manner without an unfortunate degree of very unwelcome messiness.
These and other shortcomings have left the only two known types of
carried hand sanitizing fluid dispenser products with a somewhat
limited public appeal. Based on an extensive review of commercial
literature no other packaging techniques are known to be in the
marketplace today nor could there be found any suggestion of a more
effective alternative solution to the small bottle or the
single-use foil packet approaches. There is a distinct and unmet
need for a middle product, a hand sanitizing fluid dispenser that
functionally fits between these current marketplace offerings. A
product adequate for a full day's needs of four to seven rubbings,
that is without bulk, operates in a self-sealing manner, can be
accessed easily, permits discrete usage, and is sufficiently
affordable to be omnipresent and disposable.
[0013] Other prior art as described in the patent literature offers
few relevant disclosures and what could be found is discussed as
follows. The pertinent patent art can be divided into four subject
areas: Packets with Rupturable Barriers (6), Single-Use Packets
(2), Tortuous Path Seals (4), and various Sealing Valves (6). There
have been numerous prior art devices for dispensing liquids, but
out of the entire prior art only one (Kocker U.S. Pat. No.
6,228,375) deals specifically with a disposable hand sanitizing
fluid dispensing packet and an associated hand hygiene method based
on the single-use packet. Kocker disclosed a packet that will be
more fully described below in Single-Use Packets category. The
other cited patents herein deal almost exclusively with techniques
for opening, dispersing and sealing various packet configurations.
As portions of the present invention use in unique configurations
many of these features, in addition to a newly discovered deforming
self-sealing choke valve and other original features, it is useful
to review the prior art so novel differentiation and inventive
fashions can be clearly delineated.
[0014] In the first group (Packets with Rupturable Barriers) there
are six patents that are relevant in some fashion.
Miller U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,789 disclosed a fluid containing packet
with a weakly sealed and thus breakable area in the peripheral seal
which forms an opening when pressure is applied via a flexible wall
to the contained fluid.
Strenger U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,472 disclosed a rupturable seal that
when burst by fluid pressure flowed into a diverter area to meter
out a controlled flow.
Farmer U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,556 disclosed a single portion packet
with two seams that peel apart under pressure forming a discharge
opening.
Lane U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,744 disclosed a single-use with one or
more pressure rupturable frangible seals and controlled dispersing
chamber.
Farmer U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,760 disclosed a single-use dual chamber
dispenser with rupturable membranes to control the discharge of the
fluid.
May U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,069 disclosed a tube dispenser with a
rupturable dividing membrane with weakening folds and creases.
[0015] The present invention does not employ any rupturable
membrane seals nor do any of the above disclose or suggest their
usage in a hand sanitizing method. Two patents in the Single-Use
group are as follows:
[0016] Kocher U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,375 disclosed a single-use,
single chamber disposable packet containing a hand sanitizing fluid
that is either dispersed as a spray when a seal bursts under
pressure or a tear is made in the packet. A method using single-use
packets for hand sanitation is claimed.
Sokolsky U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,916 disclosed a single-serving
condiment pouch employing a trapezoidal shaped configuration and
opening to dispense a flat ribbon of food condiment.
[0017] Neither of the two single-use packets disclose or suggest
the multidose, seal-sealing valve packets, or methods using same of
the present invention. Four patents in the Tortuous Path Seal group
are as follows:
Kaplan U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,581 disclosed a flexible dispensing
container with a tortuous passage serving as a spring check valve
which allows fluid to flow when placed under pressure.
Jamison U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,245 discloses a flow channel with a
serpentine configuration and a spout tear for dispersement.
Billman U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,646 disclosed a serpentine discharge
configuration protected from being deformed by wall indentations of
the container.
Zakensberg U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,609 disclosed a tortuous path valve
of thermoformed ridges and recesses to form a positive seal for the
pack.
[0018] None of the four Tortuous Path group disclosed or suggested
a deforming self-sealing valve/choke of the present invention nor
do they disclose or suggest any hand sanitizing method. The final
group, Sealing Valves, with six patents are as follows:
Volckening U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,121 disclosed a flexible package
with a discharge outlet passage of resilient material capable of
self-closing following a pressure induced passage of fluid.
Brown U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,085 disclosed a liquid squeeze tube with
a fold over flap seal for containing the remaining fluid following
a use.
Hellstrom U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,376 disclosed a package container
with a snap open/close valve of tensed flexible sheets to control
flow.
Haggar U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,912 disclosed a dispensing package using
a convex/concave pop valve to control a flow channel and thus
regulate multiple doses.
Chan U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,224 disclosed a self-closing liquid
dispensing package with a self-sealing flat channel valve that
relies on pre-tensed resilience to resealing following pressure
induced dispersement from a thermoformed reservoir.
Farmer U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,468 disclosed use of a spaced pair of
pre-tensed transverse creasing folds as a self-sealing valve for
dispersing liquid soaps by a stripping action.
[0019] None of the six Sealing Valves disclosed or suggested a
deforming self-sealing choke valve of the present invention nor do
they indicate any use in a hand sanitizing method. No prior art in
either the literature or patents could be found which addressed the
use of lottery or gaming promotion techniques associated with hand
sanitizing fluid dispensers and packaging thereof.
[0020] The above discussed current practices and known forms of
dispensers together with various packaging types, all were found
deficient in several respects. Significantly, none of the above
references taken in part or as a whole presents a convenient,
timely, and effective way of facilitating the use of hand
sanitizing fluids achievable by means of a small, flat, clear,
disposable, twin chambered, multi-dose, self-sealing, polymer,
pocket carried packet. None overcome the recognized problems of
timeliness, convenience, and accessibility provided by the
advancement to the art the present invention contributes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing
disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art. Accordingly it is
a primary intent of the present invention to provide a distinctly
novel product concept (packet) and equally important innovative
method using the packaging concept to overcome the problems of
time, convenience, and timeliness which have previously curtailed
the effective use of hand sanitizing fluids by the general
population. Further, a method is disclosed whereby distribution of
packets is encouraged by the use of lottery and gaming techniques
which heighten the opportunity of using a hand sanitizing fluid for
hand hygiene simply because the packet was obtained and retained at
hand in hopes of it being a winner. And hence the AtHand.TM. brand
name and trademark identifying both the packet packaging and
associated methods. A key element in making such a multi-dose
packet a reality was the discovery that a simple arrangements of
design components could constitute a seal-forming choke valve and
an associated weakly adhesive film valve made from existing packet
materials could retain and preserve highly volatile hand sanitizing
fluids over a day's time despite many openings for usage. All hand
sanitizing fluids have one important attribute in addition to
killing pathogens, they evaporate very quickly from the hands.
Understandable enough given they are typically some two-thirds
alcohol. In less than a minute, usually under thirty seconds, the
hands are dry, the liquid evaporated and gone. How could a cheap,
simple packet retain such a vaporous fluid over hours or even days
after being opened? Bottles used for such purposes have substantial
caps, tight seals, and thick walled bodies to preserve their
fluids, how could a necessarily cheap, flimsy packet accomplish
such protection once opened? By trial and error investigation,
pursued following a chance observation that a film of reagent grade
alcohol trapped between two loose sheets of plastic film did not
evaporate quickly, it was discovered that a packet could be created
that employed a dispensing means that so limited evaporation the
loss became inconsequential even over days of time. Later discovery
of the deforming choke valve provided a necessary element of
overall robustness to the fluid control. These discoveries held up
even in the rough handling commonly found in pants pockets, even at
the elevated temperatures generated by body heat. This discovery
that highly volatile hand sanitizing fluids could be packaged in a
new and novel manner opened the door to the present invention.
[0022] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
novel and significant advancement in the art of hand sanitizing
dispensing apparatus in the form of a packet which overcomes the
problems of time, convenience, and timeliness by being small, flat,
multi-dose, self-sealing, inconspicuous, clean dispensing and
pocket carried.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is a method
promoting and attaining hand sanitation by using carried multi-dose
packets of hand sanitizing fluid to reduce hand-borne pathogens and
subsequently lower the rate of infectious diseases in the general
population.
[0024] Another object of the present invention is a method to
encourage the distribution and retention of hand sanitizing fluid
packets through use of lottery and gaming techniques that heighten
the opportunity the packets will be available for use in a timely
act of hand hygiene maintenance.
[0025] Another object of the present invention is the use of
transparent material for the packet body to assist in fluid
manipulation, dose measurement, color based selection,
quantity/quality determination, and other visually based judgements
and actions made possible by a clear body packet material.
[0026] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
very simple but effective engineered valve or choke arrangement to
govern the passage of fluid within the packet and act as a
self-sealing closure to retain and preserve remaining fluid for
future dispersement.
[0027] A final object of the present invention is the use of a
packet stripping chamber that deploys a measured dose of hand
sanitizing fluid directly into a cupped hand and finger arrangement
that substantially eliminates mess and waste while significantly
improving convenient usage.
[0028] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
where appropriate with the accompanying drawings wherein are set
forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of
this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this
specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present
invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the
dual chamber packet, with the dividing barrier a defining a gap
passage that allows fluidic communication between the two chambers,
in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a frontal view with examples of various markings
on the body of the packet.
[0032] FIGS. 3 and 4 are views where the dividing barrier elements
are at an angle (3) or offset at an angle (4).
[0033] FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views showing first and
second chambers at rest (5) and pressure applied to first chamber
causing movement of fluid into second chamber for dispensing
(6).
[0034] FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views showing the first
chamber pressure the closing choke valve by deforming the passage
(7) and opening choke valve by applying a tension pull at second
chamber which opens the choke valve allowing fluid to pass into
second chamber (8).
[0035] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts for all
the various figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] While the invention will be described in connection with
illustrations, descriptions, and examples of preferred embodiments,
it will be understood these are not intended to limit the present
invention only to these embodiments. On the contrary, the present
invention is to cover all structural and/or functional alternatives
as defined by the appended claims.
[0037] The term "hand sanitizing fluid" as used herein refers to
any non-irritating, antimicrobial-containing composition in the
form of a fluid, gel, spray, foam, cream, lotion, or tincture
preparation designed for frequent use that can reduce the number of
transient microorganisms, specifically pathogens, when applied to
and dispersed over the hands and other skin areas. Such
preparations have a broad antimicrobial spectrum, are fast-acting,
and are often persistent. Representative of such agents are
alcohols (e.g. ethyl and isopropyl), iodines (e.g.
hexachlorophene), bisbiquanides (e.g. Chlorhexidine digluconate),
and quaternary ammonium salts (e.g. Benzalkonium chloride) which
are formulated singularly or in combination. This term is
specifically intended to include all such preparations, known and
unknown, that are capable of achieving a substantial reduction of
skin residing pathogens when applied to the hands or other areas of
human skin where such pathogens are found.
[0038] The term "flexible polymeric material" as used herein refers
to any polymer film capable of being constructed into a packet for
containment and preservation of a hand sanitizing fluid. Such
polymer films as may prove useful for this purpose have sufficient
flexibility to yield to finger pressure, are sufficiently durable
to withstand reasonable hydraulic pressure created by fingers, have
good crack and puncture resistance, have very good chemical
resistance and low gas permeability, and are capable of being
sealed to self or other materials. Representative of such films are
polypropylene and polyethylene. Numerous grades, gauges, textures,
combined in many lamination varieties, formed by many techniques,
with numerous additives, and an even greater numbers of
formulations provide a wide array of polymeric materials to select
from, singularly or in combination, to satisfy the specific
chemical, physical, and aesthetic attributes required for a
specific packet's construction, its content's formulation, and the
precise function for which it is intended. All known and yet
unknown polymer materials functionally suited for use in
constructing multi-dose packets containing hand sanitizing fluids
are envisioned by use of this term.
[0039] The present invention is best understood by several examples
that illustrates and describes how various aspects of each
apparatus and method functions. Example 1 details the hand
sanitizing fluid packet by means of illustrations (FIGS. 1-8) and
operational descriptions. Example 2 describes a method using hand
sanitizing fluid packets to achieve and maintain an effective level
of personal hand hygiene. Example 3 describes a method encouraging
the distribution and retention of hand sanitizing fluid packets for
hand sanitation by keeping them handy by various lottery and gaming
techniques.
EXAMPLE 1
Multi-Dose Hand Sanitizing Fluid Packet
[0040] The preferred embodiment of the packet generally designated
by the reference number 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 has a peripheral seal
20 joining front and back walls 23 of flexible polymeric material
(2-mil polypropylene) to enclose and contain a hand sanitizing
fluid 11 (Purell Hand Sanitizer, 62% alcohol) with two chambers, a
first chamber 12 and a second chamber 14. Overall dimensions in
this packet embodiment are 9.times.3.times.0.5 centimeters with
first chamber 6-centimeters long and second chamber 2.5-centimeters
long and the balance of the length in sealed edges 20 and margins
18. Creating and dividing these adjacent chambers is a partitioning
means in the form of a two-part barrier 17a and 17b created by
sealing the front and back walls 23 in a like manner used to create
the peripheral seal 20. Creation of the seals can be achieved by a
number of means well known in the art, herein the common technique
involving heat and pressure are used to create the seals. The two
distinct chambers, 12 and 14, are in fluidic communication in that
the contained fluid 11 can be transferred between the two chambers,
12 and 14, by a relatively small constrictive gap (about
1-millimeter or less) 15 in the thin barrier seal (about
1-millimeter wide) 17a/b. This inter-chamber fluidic transfer is
made possible by appropriate placed stresses such as pressure
applied to the pocket walls 23 of flexible polymeric material by
fingers. In FIGS. 5 and 6 the filled reservoir of the first chamber
12 is shown in a cross section view, FIG. 6 shows fingers 41 and 42
applying pressure and filling second chamber 14 with fluid 11.
[0041] Typically, the first chamber 12 acts as a reservoir of hand
sanitizing fluid (typically 3-millimeters, but ranging 2-8
millimeters) that constitutes plural doses of fluid 11 to be
dispersed over perhaps a day's time. By applying pressure to the
first chamber 12, fluid 11 is pushed through the barrier gap 15
into the second chamber 14. The amount of fluid 11 transferred from
the first 12 to second chamber 11 is easily controlled by the
amount of pressure applied and gauged by eye given the transparency
of at least part of one wall 23 of the packet 10. When a
predetermined amount of fluid 11 has been transferred, typically
1-2 milliliters, into the second chamber 14, a tear 22 is created
by fingers in the second chamber 14 walls 23 starting at a
manufactured notch 19 in the margin 18 beyond the peripheral seal
20 at the top of the second chamber 14. This tear 22 forms the
dispersal exit for the measured dose of fluid 11 from the second
chamber 14. Dispersal is accomplished by holding the packet by the
fingers of one hand in the area of the first chamber 12, placing
thumb and forefinger of the other hand on opposite walls 23 of the
second chamber 14 at the barrier seal 17a/b, and stripping the
second chamber's 14 measured dose of fluid 11 toward and out of the
exit tear 22 into the cupped hand created by the finger
arrangement. The second chamber 14 has performed the role of first
holding the measured fluid 11 transfer from the reservoir first
chamber 12 and then acted as a dispensing structures that cleanly,
accurately, and with little or no waste deposited the dose into a
hand for rubbing and reduction of hand-borne pathogens. A third
role for the second chamber 14 is now begun; the interior surfaces
of the second chamber's 14 wall 23 still retain a thin film of
fluid 11. This thin residue weakly holds the walls 23 together,
partially by adhesion and somewhat by the dynamics that govern
fluidic films. By holding the walls 23 together a minute surface
area is exposed to evaporation in the area of the tear 22,
consequently there is little lose of fluid 11 at the
film/atmosphere interface and it slows even more as the interface
edge surface does retreat between the walls to a point where the
retreat stops, a point where the atmospheric boundary becomes so
saturated with evaporated fluid 11 and lack of atmospheric
circulation that for all purposes a seal is formed preventing
further loss. The second chamber 14 has become a dispensing valve
means, a form of film seal, specifically designed to control loss
of fluid 11 from the packet 10 by retarding evaporation and
leakage.
[0042] This dispensing valve works in conjunction with a second
fluid control means created by the barrier 17a/b and the gap 15
therein. The barrier 17a/b and gap 15 structures illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4 show alternatives positions of the two-part barrier
17a and 17b. In FIG. 3 the barrier parts 17a/b are placed so as to
form a conjunctive angle to one another as they bear on forming the
gap 15. This is in contrast to the aligned relationship of the
barrier 17a/b shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 4 the barrier 17a/b
shows as offset, asymmetrical position of the gap 15. All these
barrier gap 15 positions and barrier 17a/b alignments produced
comparable results.
[0043] In FIG. 2 marks 32 and 33 on the body of the packet 10 are
shown as printing on the exterior surface of a packet 10 wall 23.
Such marks can denote a wide range of meanings and values,
including such useful communications as addresses, advertising
messages, call numbers, codes, company names, event commemorations,
event dates, decorative art, facility names, formulas, fortune
predictions, gaming symbols, instructions, internet addresses,
logos, lottery numbers, lottery symbols, meaningful images,
notations, promotional slogans, raffle numbers, schedules,
trademarks, and other meaningful communications. In this example
"Tongass Bay Alaska Cruise August 2004" commemorates a cruise
ship's visit to a remote locale. Making one wall 23 or a portion of
the packet 10 opaque facilitates the reading or deciphering of any
marking placed on the packet 10.
[0044] The gap 15 forms a fluid passage governing means that can,
when actuated by fluidic pressure originating from either chamber,
stops fluidic communication between the chamber up to a moderate
level of such pressure. This governing means takes the form of a
self-forming choke that stops low level pressure pushing fluid 11
into the second chamber 14 and destroying the weak film seal which
could lead to substantial leakage and loss of fluid 11 after an
initial usage. Under even slight pressure the gap's 15 design
created by it small width defined by the two barrier 17a/b ends
resists fluid movement and builds pressure on the flexible walls
surrounding the gap 15 area. In FIG. 7 this reservoir pressure 61
distorts the packet walls 23 in the gap 15 and closes the opening
52 by lateral pressure 62 deforming in a crimping fashion the
flexible nature of the polymeric material used to form the walls 23
of the packet. A choke valve 52 self-formed by pressure capable of
moving the fluid 11 through the choke area, the gap 15, restricts
that same flow. This restriction is sufficient to control
unintended discharges from the first chamber 12 into the second
chamber 14 and out through the exit tear 22 that would create
unexpected leakage and similar undesirable discharges. The choke
can be opened in two ways to allow fluid passage into the second
chamber 14 when intended and desirable. Simply by continuing to
increase the pressure applied to the walls 23, it will eventually
become possible to overcome the self-formed choke and fluid 11 will
squirt into the second chamber 14. The pressure required can be
significantly high and possibly beyond the strength of some users.
A second and easier method of opening the choke 52 is shown in FIG.
8 where tension 63 applied to the notched 19 end of the second
chamber 14. By pulling on the packet 10 end where the tear 22 is
located, while holding and applying pressure to the first chamber
12 reservoir of fluid 11, the deformed gap 15 area of the choke 52
is straightened out 62 sufficient to allow the fluid 11 to pass
into the second chamber 14 for eventual discharge through the tear
22 exit. The release of pressure or it dropping below a certain
level either removes the self-forming choke 52 or allows the choke
52 to reform, in either case fluid 11 flow is once again
restricted.
[0045] Transparent walls 23 of the packet permit a number of novel
advances in the art of hand sanitizing fluid dispensers. With clear
walls 23 it becomes possible to visually inspect the quantity and
location of the fluid 11 in the first 12 and second 14 chambers so
proper manipulation is possible. The same clear walls 23 facilitate
stripping the fluid for dispersement. Visual inspection for the
quality of the fluid 11 is also made possible. Packet selection
made by sight based on the color of the fluid 11 is now also
possible, as can the same opportunity for choice selection based on
fluid 11 color indicating the inclusion of specific additives or
formulation with specific antimicrobial properties. Clear walls 23
also permit inspection to determine the degree of completeness when
kneading the fluid 11 is necessary to mix separated
ingredients.
[0046] It should be noted that by design, materials are called upon
to perform many different role, thus packaging is kept to a minimal
amount to reduce ecological impacts, lower costs, and contribute to
the packet's small size. Fluid waste is also negligible by virtue
that every drop can be effectively stripped from the packet 10.
Small bottles consume many times the packet's 10 packaging
resources and are notoriously wasteful of the fluid left trapped
inside. The packet 10 permits full extraction of hand sanitizing
fluid 11 leading to a greater economy of usage.
EXAMPLE 2
Hand Sanitation Method
[0047] A disposable multi-dose packet of hand sanitizing fluid with
self-sealing features that is unobtrusively carried in an easily
accessible pocket would greatly contribute to the timely need to
sanitize hands several times a day. Convenience of use and access
are key features. For example, follow this narrative of a typical
use that illustrates the promotion and subsequent attainment of
effective hand sanitation. A father takes his daughter to a
fast-food restaurant for lunch while out shopping. He places their
order at the counter, pays, receives change, and their food tray.
They find a booth and sit down. Before digging in, the father
quickly retrieves from his shirt pocket a hand sanitizing fluid
packet he had opened earlier in the morning after handling many
items at a popular flea market. He offers the packet end to his
daughter who reaches out and strips a dose of hand sanitizing fluid
into her cupped hand and rubs. He does the same and drops the
packet back into his packet without further ado. They now enjoy
their lunch with a sense of well being, knowing the risk of
hand-borne pathogens has been addressed.
[0048] This scenario is useful for purposes other than a functional
illustration. The father may have bought the packet for his own and
his family's health benefit, or he may have obtained the packet at
a mall as a promotional item when he bought a book, conducted a
bank transaction, or picked up a prescription at his health clinic.
Or perhaps it was leftover from a recent air flight or vacation
aboard a cruise ship. It might have been bought or distributed in a
number of circumstances including air travel, assemblages,
barrooms, business dealings, checkout counters, conventions, cruise
ships, disaster relief, educational facilities, elder care
facilities, expeditions, financial institutions, food services,
ground transportation, health clinics, hospitals, livestock events,
lodgings, malls, manufacturing facilities, meetings, military
installations, offices, parties, political gatherings, potlucks,
prisons, promotional events, public events, public facilities,
religious services, rest homes, schools, service counters, shops,
sporting events, theaters, toilet facilities, zoos and other
situations. Whatever its origin, the wide distribution has
contributed to its use this day, at this table, for their health
benefit.
[0049] Various modes of carrying the packet are also useful in
promoting and attaining hand sanitation. By placing hand sanitizing
fluid packets in carrying devices other than pockets, the
opportunities for a timely reminder and access are improved.
Placing a hand sanitizing fluid packet in a backpack, belt pack,
briefcase, computer case, garment, lanyard attachment, lunchbox,
lunch bag, notebook, purse, pocket, sports bag, toolbox, telephone
carrier, or wristband increases the probability of use.
[0050] Perhaps the narrative of the father and daughter at lunch
would be more telling if instead of the father offering the packet
to the daughter, the child offered a packet to the father. She
picked up the habit in school and was now sharing it, with
justifiable pride, with her father.
EXAMPLE 3
Lottery and Gaming Promotion Method
[0051] Habit formation is initially based on repetitive action and
a key element in making that repetitive action possible is
available circumstances. For example, the habit of using a fork to
eat is not likely to develop if a fork is missing when food is
served. The same is true in developing the habit of using hand
sanitizing fluid packets to regularly sanitizing hands; the packets
must be available at all times to form the habit of cleaning hands.
Any and all techniques useful to distributing and having the user
retain a hand sanitizing fluid packet is a major step toward
developing a use habit simply because the packet is available in an
opportune and timely manner.
[0052] One technique for promoting hand sanitation is to introduce
lottery and gaming aspects so as to encourage the distribution and
retention of hand sanitizing fluid packets. In the following
scenario a lottery encourages and supports a significant health
objective. A cruise ship's company is concerned about an outbreak
of the nasty gastrointestinal Norwalk flu; two other ships in the
fleet have had so many cases whole trips have been cancelled to
decontaminate the vessels. The owners, officers, and crew can ill
afford the staggering losses an outbreak would cause; passengers
are understandable nervous about getting sick during a long planned
vacation. The ship's officers and crew have done and continue to do
everything possible to keep the facilities germ-free, but they know
the problem does not lie with the ship. It is with the passengers
that harbor the virus. When they came aboard from around the world,
they bring with them a veritable menagerie of germs gathered from
home and along the way. When they take day trips ashore during the
cruise they bring new ones aboard from these ports of call that
have become literally crossroads of world travel. To combat these
continual infectious assaults the ship has introduced hand
sanitizing fluid packets, and to encourage their distribution and
retention has instituted a dining lottery. At each meal a hand
sanitizing fluid packet is passed out or placed with the table
setting. Each packet bears a lottery number 23 as shown in FIG. 2
along with the ship's name and company logo. The winning numbers
will be posted in the ship's paper the following day for prizes of
caps, shirts, and other items and services available on board.
Every passengers will acquire, retain and hopefully use the packet
when the benefits of use are properly and repeatedly explained.
Making the packets so widely available through the lottery, and
stressing the fact that everyone is in the same boat so to speak
regarding public health, a significant reduction of hand-borne
disease is a likely outcome.
[0053] Whether the motivation for acquiring the packet is to have a
chance at a lottery prize and then used for hand sanitation, or
acquired the packet for hand sanitation and kept them for a
possible prize, the end results of distribution and retention are
achieved. Gaming can also achieve the same purpose. At lunch a
group of men gather to open their lunch bags and socialize.
Included in the bags are hand sanitizing fluid packets with a poker
hand displayed as markings, each one different based on the
statistical spread of winning hands inherent to the game. The men
engage in calling out real and fictional holdings to determine who
buys the cold soft drinks or the like. The packets are also used to
clean the hands in that they are literally already at hand. Endless
gaming options are possible based on this simple technique, and all
of which encourage and promote the distribution of hand sanitizing
fluid packets which can lead to usage. Good public and private
health habits are in our own hands.
[0054] Throughout this specification various publications are
referenced. The disclosures of these publications in their
entireties are hereby incorporated by reference in order to more
fully describe the state of the art to which the invention
pertains. What has been illustrated and described herein is an
improvement in certain types of squeezable articles of manufacture
representative of fluid containers made of flexible polymeric
material, specifically for dispensing hand sanitizing fluid for
hand hygiene. Additionally, novel methods for employment and
distribution of such article types have been described and
illustrated by way of functional examples. While these improvements
have been illustrated and described with reference to certain
preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited
thereto. In particular, the foregoing specification and embodiments
are intended to be illustrative and are not to be taken as
limiting. Thus, alternatives, such as structural or mechanical or
functional equivalent, and other modifications will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.
Accordingly, such alternatives, changes, and modifications are to
be considered as forming a part of the present invention insofar as
they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *
References