초록 ▼

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 foun

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A disposable squeeze packet for dispensing multiple doses of hand sanitizing fluid, comprising: a packet designed to hold and preserve hand sanitizing fluid with the general form of a substantially flat sealed pouch made of flexible polymeric material with at least two distin

What is claimed is: 1. A disposable squeeze packet for dispensing multiple doses of hand sanitizing fluid, comprising: a packet designed to hold and preserve hand sanitizing fluid with the general form of a substantially flat sealed pouch made of flexible polymeric material with at least two distinct chambers in fluidic communication permitting inter-chamber fluid transfer when appropriate stresses are applied via the packet walls of said flexible polymeric material; a first chamber capable of holding plural doses of said fluid; a second chamber capable of receiving a measured dose of said fluid from said first chamber; a partitioning means constructed of a flexible polymeric material separating adjacent first and second chambers, said partitioning means having a fluid passage governing means formed at a passage gap in said partitioning means, wherein, when external pressure is applied to the walls of said first chamber, said fluid pressure is directed against said partitioning means adjacent said passage gap causing deformation of said flexible polymeric material to provide a self-forming choke by constricting said fluid passage formed by said passage gap, thereby resisting and blocking fluid flow between said first and second chambers; and said second chamber functioning as a dispensing valve means for said fluid held within when said fluid is pressure stripped from said second chamber through an exit means capable of being created in at least one wall of said second chamber to dispense said fluid. 2. The packet of claim 1, further comprising a fluid product enclosed within said packet, wherein said flexible polymeric material is sufficiently transparent to see said fluid. 3. The packet of claim 2 wherein the transparent said flexible polymeric material permits visual inspection of the quantity or location of said fluid in the said first and second chambers. 4. The packet of claim 2 wherein the transparent said flexible polymeric material permits measurement, manipulation, and transfer of a dose of said fluid between said first and second chambers. 5. The packet of claim 2 wherein the transparent said flexible polymeric material facilitates visual inspection for effective pressure stripping of said fluid from said second chamber for proper dispensing. 6. The packet of claim 2 wherein said self-forming choke provided by said partitioning means having said fluid passage governing means effectively prevents fluidic communication in either direction between said first and second chambers when moderate fluidic pressure is applied to either of the two chambers. 7. The packet of claim 2 wherein the transparent flexible material permits packet selection by visual means based on a choice of differently colored said fluids. 8. The packet of claim 7 wherein a specific fluid color indicates the presence of specific additives in said fluid. 9. The packet of claim 7 wherein a specific fluid color indicates a class of hand sanitizing fluid formulation with specific antimicrobial properties. 10. The packet of claim 2 wherein the transparent flexible material facilitates visual inspection of the degree of completeness of a kneaded mixing of separated ingredients of said fluid. 11. The packet of claim 1 wherein said measured dose is typically 1 to 2-milliliters of said fluid. 12. The packet of claim 1 wherein said plural doses is typically 2 to 8-milliliters of said fluid. 13. The packet of claim 1 wherein said partitioning means is a relatively thin sealed seam barrier created by joining front and back walls of the packet and said partitioning means contains a single constricting passage gap in said seam barrier for said fluidic communication between said first and second chambers. 14. The packet of claim 13 wherein both parts of said seam barrier are aligned in the area of said gap. 15. The packet of claim 13 wherein both parts of said seam barrier are at an angle to one another in the area of said gap. 16. The packet of claim 1, wherein the deformed gap acting as said self-forming choke sealing off said channel passage can be substantially undeformed by applying a pulling tension to said second chamber away from said first chamber, thereby opening said choke seal and permitting said fluid flow from said first to said second chamber. 17. The packet of claim 1, wherein the deformed gap acting as said self-forming choke sealing off said channel passage functionally fails in the presence of substantial increasing fluidic pressure emanating from said first chamber and allows passage of said fluid until said pressure drops sufficiently to allow functional restoration of said deformed gap, whereupon said self-forming choke reforms and closes off said fluid flow. 18. The packet of claim 1 wherein said exit means is a user created tear. 19. The packet of claim 18 wherein said tear is begun at a manufactured notch or cut made in the margin of said packet beyond the peripheral sealing seam. 20. The packet of claim 1 wherein said fluid in said second chamber is stripped by finger and thumb opposing pressure from said partitioning means area towards said exit means and out of said packet via said exit means. 21. The packet of claim 20 wherein said stripping action deposits said fluid into a cupped hand substantially preventing said fluid wastage through runoff or dropping before rubbing distribution. 22. The packet of claim 1 wherein said inter-chamber fluid transfer and said stripping action substantially empties all of said fluid from said packet over several uses and consequently significantly reduces packaging wastage by design of said packet which leads to a greater economy of use of said fluid. 23. The packet of claim 1 wherein said dispensing valve means formed following said fluid stripping is an empty collapsed chamber that substantially retards evaporation and leakage of said fluid from said packet by a weak adhesive tension formed by said walls and a film of remaining said fluid. 24. The packet of claim 1 wherein said packet bears a marking 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, other meaningful communications, meaningful images, notations, promotional slogans, raffle numbers, schedules, trademarks, and combinations thereof. 25. The packet of claim 1 wherein at least one surface of said flexible polymeric material is opaque to facilitate reading or deciphering of markings on said packet.