Eye wash station

Abstract

A hand held eye wash station includes a collapsible container for containing the eye wash liquid. A spring member for collapsing the container and forcibly expressing the liquid is restrained by a snap release. When eye flushing is necessary the snap release is manually operated to free the spring which in turn collapses the container and expresses the eye wash liquid in a continuous stream.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to eye wash stations and more particularly to such a station wherein the discharge of the eye wash liquid is easily initiated and once initiated, is continuous until the container is empty.

Eye wash stations are commonly used in laboratories or other areas where there is a danger of eye injury due to contact with a hazardous substance such acid, hydroxides and the like. In most instances, an eye wash station is a permanent fixture in the laboratory and is connected directly to the building water supply. Since the eye must be flushed as quickly as possible after contact with a hazardous substance, any delay in flushing could be disastrous. For this reason, a permanent or built-in eye wash station is not satisfactory unless it is immediately adjacent the area where such an injury might occur. Another objection to such fixed eye wash stations is that its plumbed-in water supply may not necessarily be at the preferred ambient or room temperature.

Small portable, hand held eye wash stations are also known in the art. The advantage of such an unit is that it can be carried or located anywhere a hazardous substance is employed, so that the eye wash station is immediately available should any injury occur. The primary disadvantage of such units is that they must be squeezed manually to express the eye wash liquid and for this reason the eye wash liquid is expressed in an intermittent stream rather than in a preferred, continuous stream. Further, an individual involved in any eye related accident frequently cannot retain their eyelid in an open position without the help of one or both hands. Thus, a handheld portable eyewash stations which must be hand squeezed, thus has the additional drawback of preventing the individual from using one or both hands to hold his eyelid open.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the prior art by providing a portable handheld eye wash station container which is snap-opened. Once opened, the container automatically supplies a constant flow of eye wash liquid which continues until the container is empty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be characterized in one aspect thereof by the provisions of a frame; a collapsible container in the frame for containing the eye wash liquid; bias means between the frame and the container; and a manual release engaging the bias means wherein operation of the release allows the bias to exert a continuous force for collapsing the container and expressing the eye wash liquid.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a portable eye wash station which is quickly and easily operated.

Another object to the present invention is to provide a portable eye wash station which supplies the eye wash liquid in a continuous stream.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable, handheld eye wash station in which it is not necessary to manually squeeze the container in order to express the eye wash liquid.

Yet another object is to provide eye wash station which frees one or both hands of the accident victim after the flow of water is initiated.

These and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof when in connection with the accompanying drawings depicting the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the eye wash station; and

FIG. 2 is side elevation view of the eye wash station partly broken away and in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the portable eye wash station generally indicated at 10. The station comprises a frame or housing 12 which is preferably cylindrical. The housing includes a handle 14 and a removable top 16 having a central opening 18 (FIG. 2). Attached to the top and disposed about this opening is an upstanding collar 20 which also functions as an eyecup. For this reason, the collar is preferably made of a soft material such as rubber or foamed plastic. The housing is also provided with an axial slot 22 for purposes set out herein below. This slot extends for the major height of the housing with the lower end 24 of the slot being spaced above the housing bottom 26.

Disposed within the housing, as shown in FIG. 2, is a collapsible container 28 for containing the eye wash liquid. The container has an open spout 30 which extends up into collar 20. The spout is covered with a perforated cap 32 so that liquid being expressed from the container will form a spray.

Container 28 is supported on a follower plate 34 which in turn is supported on a spring 36 biased between this plate and housing bottom 26. The follower plate has a ear 38 which extends into and through slot 22. Engaged over this ear is a manual release means formed by a stiff wire rod 40.

As shown in the figures, rod 40 has a lower end 42 which is pivoted to housing 12. This pivot, for example, may be accomplished by seating the lower end of the rod in a groove 44 formed in the bottom of the housing. The upper end 46 of the rod extends to the top of collar 20 and in connected to an L-shaped push plate. One portion 50 of this plate is disposed snugly over the top of the collar and acts as a dust cover to prevent dust particles and the like from settling down and into cup 20 and spout 30. The second portion 52 of the plate is an upstanding portion which is manually pushed to operate the eye wash station.

Between its ends 42 and 46, release rod 40 is formed with a dog leg 54 which is engaged over ear 38. Movement of release rod to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 will allow this dogleg to slide off and release the ear thereby releasing the restraint on spring 36.

Should the need arise to operate the eye wash station, it is merely lifted by handle 14 and the upstanding plate portion 52 struck or pushed. This rotates release rod clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 which moves both plate portion 50 from collar 20 and dogleg 54 from ear 38. Releasing ear 38 frees spring 36 and allows the spring to expand. The expanding spring causes container 28 to collapse towards and against housing top 16. While the container is being forcibly collapsed, the eye wash liquid in the container is expressed in a continuous stream through spout 30.

Once upright plate portion 52 is pushed, no further action is required to initiate the flow of liquid and the flow remains continuous until the container is emptied. After flow is started, the accident victim can either use one hand to hold the wash station up to his eye and the other hand to hold his eyelid open or set the station on any convenient surface and use both hands to hold his eyelid open. The duration of the flow depends upon the size of the container and, the strength of spring 50 and the spout size. However, a flow duration of 15 seconds to several minutes is within the skill of the art. Further, since the station is a self-contained unit, the temperature of the eye wash liquid will be at the desired ambient temperature.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the present invention overcomes its intended objects in providing an easily operated, self-contained, handheld eye wash station capable of providing a continuous flow of eye wash liquid for a sustained period of time.

Claims

Having described the invention in detail, what is claimed as new is:

1. A self-contained eye wash station comprising:

a. a housing having an axial slot formed through the wall thereof;

b. a collapsible container confined in said housing, said container adapted to contain an eye wash liquid and having an open spout portion extending through said housing;

c. bias means between said housing and container, said means capable of exerting a force on said container to collapse the same for expressing the liquid contents thereof through said spout, said means including a flange extending through said slot; and

d. manually operable release means in releasable engagement with said flange restraining said bias means.

2. A self-contained eye wash station comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a collapsible container confined in said housing, said container adapted to contain a liquid and having an open spout portion extending through said housing;

c. bias means between said housing and container, said means capable of exerting a force on said container to collapse the same for expressing the liquid contents thereof through said spout; and

d. manually operable release means restraining said bias means, said release means having a first end pivoted to said housing, a second end adapted to be manually engaged and a portion intermediate said ends releasably engaged with said bias means.

3. An eye wash station as in claim 2 wherein said bias means is provided with a flange extending through said housing and said intermediate portion is a dogleg engaged over said flange.

4. An eye wash station as in claim 3 wherein said second end extends over the top of said housing and is provided with a upstanding pushing surface.

5. An eye wash station as in claim 3 wherein such second end includes a substantially horizontal plate member disposed over said spout portion to provide a dust cover for said open spout.

6. A self-contained eye wash station comprising:

a. a housing having an axial slot formed through the wall thereof and an open end;

b. a removable cover for said open end, said cover having a central opening;

c. a collar of resilient material upstanding about said central opening to form an eye cup;

d. a collapsible container confined in said housing for containing an eye wash liquid, said container having a spout portion extending through said central opening and into said eye cup;

e. bias means between said container and the bottom of said housing exerting a force on said container to collapse the same towards the top of said housing for expressing the liquid contents of said container through said spout, said bias means including a flange extending through said slot; and

f. manual release means engaged against said flange restraining said bias means, the operation of said release means causing disengagement with said flange and allowing said bias means to collapse said container and force the eye wash liquid therefrom.