Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Hand Wash Wall Hung Sink To Avoid Spread Of Infectious Disease
100011
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
100021 The invention is directed to a sink for use in an area where germs
and infection can
be problematic such as in a health care institution or similar area.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] Sink designs for most hospital rooms and other areas requiring a
sterile or clean
environment, such as hospital rooms housing transplant patients, have shallow
basins and high,
gooseneck spouts that flow directly into the drain below. Because of this
design, pressure from
the spout tends to splash water out of the drain, which then sprays nearby
surfaces. In some
cases, splashing can extend as far as the head of the patient's bed and onto
the preparatory
counter. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common bacterium that thrives in drains
where it forms
what are known as biofilms, can trigger skin, wound or bloodstream infections
or pneumonia in
seriously ill hospitalized patients. These and other pathogens can be
transported by water or
other liquids in a liquid carrier fluid or biofihn. Sinks are placed in such
rooms for the practice
of having clean hands when before contact with patients. See, e.g., U.S.
Patent Publication No.
2002/0050006 Al.
[0004] In addition, some scrub stations and other hospital sinks
traditionally have a deeper
basin area, but have a flat bottom that also can lead to similar splashing.
See, e.g., U.S. Patent
No. 6,016,578.
[0005] There is a need in the art for a sink design for use near or in
areas where a patient is
being treated that avoids splashing in the patient area and/or showering a
counter top or bed
area with droplets of biofilms or other liquid particles carrying germs,
viruses or bacteria, so as
to help resist this cause of disease or infection to patients, especially
those who are in a
weakened condition and have a depleted immune response.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention includes a sink comprising a basin including an
upper rim having a
back portion, and an interior surface having a sloped surface portion and a
bottom surface
1
CA 2822928 2017-11-29
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
portion, wherein the sloped surface portion extends from the back portion of
the upper rim into
the bottom surface portion; a faucet member extending upwardly from an upper
portion of the
sloped surface; and a drain opening extending through the bottom surface
portion, wherein the
faucet member is positioned such that liquid from the faucet member flows onto
the sloped
surface portion into the bottom surface portion and into the drain opening.
[0007] In one embodiment thereof, the back portion of the upper rim is
generally planar so
as to be mountable on a wall. The upper rim may extend away from the back
portion in a
generally U-shaped configuration. The sloped surface portion preferably has a
generally flat
section and a curved section approaching the bottom surface portion of the
basin.
[0008] The faucet member preferably also has a faucet opening positioned
such that liquid
exiting the faucet opening contacts the sloped surface portion at a lower end
portion of the
generally flat section thereof The bottom surface portion also preferably
slopes downwardly
toward the drain opening.
[0009] In another embodiment, the sink may include a faucet member having
an automatic
sensor. The sink may also further comprise a drain insert having a drain
cover.
[0010] The invention also includes a method of preventing splashing of
liquid from a sink,
comprising providing a sink including a basin, a faucet member and a drain
opening, wherein
the basin includes an upper rim having a back portion, and an interior surface
having a sloped
surface portion and a bottom surface portion having the drain opening
extending therethrough,
wherein the sloped surface portion extends from the back portion of the upper
rim into the
bottom surface portion, the faucet member extends upwardly from an upper
portion of the
sloped surface, and the drain opening is situated in the bottom surface
portion of the basin,
wherein the faucet member is transversely offset from the drain opening; and
introducing liquid
through the faucet member so that the liquid contacts the sloped surface
before contacting the
bottom surface portion of the basin, and then flows along the bottom surface
portion of the
basin into the drain opening.
[0011] In one embodiment of the method herein, the method may further
include
minimizing the spread of germs and/or bacteria in the liquid or in a biofilm
comprising the
liquid.
[0012] The sloped surface portion may be configured so as to have a
generally flat section
and a curved section approaching the bottom surface portion of the basin, in
which case the
method may further comprise contacting the liquid to a lower end portion of
the generally flat
2
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
section prior to flowing over the curved section. Also, the bottom surface
portion may slope
downwardly toward the drain opening and the method may further comprise
flowing the liquid
from the faucet leaving the sloped surface along the bottom surface downwardly
into the drain
opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0013] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of preferred
embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in
conjunction with the
appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the
drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that
the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities
shown. In the
drawings:
[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sink according to an embodiment
of the invention;
[0015] Fig. 2 is a front plan view of the sink of Fig. 1;
[0016] Fig. 3 is a left plan view of the sink of Fig. 1;
[0017] Fig. 4 is a right plan view of the sink of Fig. 1;
[0018] Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the sink of Fig. 1;
[0019] Fig. 6 is a rear plan view of the sink of Fig. 1;
[0020] Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the sink of Fig. 1;
[0021] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the sink of Fig. 1 demonstrating
the drain and
interior area;
[0022] Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the upper basin
portion of the sink of
Fig. 1; and
[0023] Fig. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view through the upper
portion of the basin as
shown in Fig. 9 on the lower portion of the basin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The inventors hereof have developed a hand wash sink for use in
areas where
cleanliness or sterile conditions are preferred, including hospitals, patient
rooms, treatment
areas, testing facilities, long-term care rooms, testing and laboratory areas,
daycare centers,
emergency rooms, ICU's, surgery areas and the like. The sink may be a wall
hung sink. The
sink is configured so as to limit the potential for splashing liquids such as
water, and therefore
3
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/ES2010/061686
also minimizes the spread of germs and/or bacteria in liquid splashing or
biofilms so as to
protect patients from exposure.
[0025] The sink includes a preferential positioning of a drain opening in
the sink that is
transversely offset from the position of the faucet member. As shown in the
Figures herein the
faucet member has a gooseneck spout which is offset from the drain opening. By
doing so, the
liquid, such as water, flows from the faucet opening, such as from the
gooseneck spout, and
does not directly shoot liquid towards the drain. Liquid at the bottom of the
sink basin flows
away through the drain opening, and while minimizing the potential for
splashing because there
is reduced pressure due to impact on the drain as occurs in prior art basin
designs. By reducing
splashing of water out of or off of the drain, it also reduces spraying of
germs and/or bacteria in
water or in biofilms from the drain area to nearby areas or back on the person
washing their
hands, and reduces the possibility of infecting patients.
[0026] Just below the spout, the bottom surface portion of the basin of
the sink is preferably
also inclined so as to slope downwardly toward the drain. This allows water to
flow from the
faucet member through the opening or spout, over the sloped portion of the
basin surface and
then onto the inclined bottom surface portion. This deflects the flow path
with an angle, and
the inclined bottom surface portion contributes to reducing the faucet water
pressure. This will
reduce splashing water out of sink, and furthermore, reduce spaying of
bacteria and/or germs
towards patients.
[0027] The invention includes a sink, generally referred to herein as sink
10. Such a sink
may be of a variety of sizes and exterior shapes, and can be a pedestal or
wall mounted design.
In the embodiment shown herein, the sink is a wall-mounted sink 10, wherein
the sink includes
a basin 12 that has exterior wall 14 and an upper rim 16. The upper rim 16 may
be of a range
of thicknesses depending on design, and preferably is slightly angled
downwardly and inwardly
such that liquid that may touch the rim would be directed downwardly. The
upper rim may also
be a generally flat surface rim. In one embodiment, the rim can be
sufficiently negligible so as
to be only an upper edge of the exterior wall 14. In a preferred embodiment,
the rim has a
reasonable thickness to provide a barrier and is downwardly and inwardly
sloped as noted
above.
[0028] In the embodiment shown, the upper rim has a back portion 18 and an
outwardly
extending portion 20. The back portion 18 of the upper rim 16 is preferably
generally planar in
that it extends generally flat along a wall for mounting. The actual back
surface of the sink in
4
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
such case is also then preferably generally flat so as to fit against a wall
in a wall-mounted
configuration. A slight inward and downward slope on the interior portion of
the rim is also
preferred on the back portion 18 of the upper rim 16. The outwardly extending
portion 20 of
the upper rim may also be varied by design choice, however, it is preferred
that regardless of
the outside exterior shape/configuration of the outwardly extending portion 20
of the rim or of
the exterior wall 14 of the basin, the interior surface is preferably
configured to have smooth
and/or curving surfaces as described elsewhere herein that direct water or
liquids downwardly
toward the drain while resisting splashing.
[0029] The exterior wall may be a variety of configurations (square,
rectangular, circular,
ovoid, U-shaped, triangular, etc.). The exterior wall preferably slopes
inwardly from the upper
rim to the bottom 22 of the sink basin 12 for ease of use and design
convenience in that as
described further below (see Figs. 3 and 4). The interior surface of the sink
will be likewise
sloped inwardly and downwardly (see, for example, Figs. 9 and 10). Preferably
the exterior
wall 14 and the outwardly extending portion 20 of the upper rim 16 are also
curved as shown,
wherein the outwardly extending portion 20 of the upper rim 16 is preferably
of a generally U-
shaped configuration.
[0030] In the embodiment shown, the back portion 18 of the upper rim 16
is somewhat
thinner than the outwardly extending portion 20 of the rim 16. On the
outwardly extending
portion 20 of the rim, the rim is preferably about 0.5 inches to about 2
inches in width measured
transversely across the rim 16. More preferably, the rim is about 1 inch to
about 2 inches, and
most preferably about 1.5 inches to about 1.75 inches in width. The exterior
wall in the
preferred embodiment shown has a transverse width measured parallel to the
back portion 18 of
the upper rim is preferably about 15 to about 25 inches, preferably about 17
to about 20 inches.
The sink basin preferably extends outwardly from the back portion at the upper
rim about 10 to
about 20 inches away from where the basin would wall mount, preferably about
15 to about 17
inches.
[0031] The basin 12 also has an interior surface 24 extending inwardly
and downwardly
from the upper rim 16 into the basin 12. The interior surface is described
herein beginning with
the portion of the interior surface near the back portion 18 of the upper rim
16. The interior
surface 24 has a sloped surface portion 26 which extends from the back portion
18 of the upper
rim 16 and terminates into a bottom surface portion 28 of the interior surface
24. The sloped
surface portion 26 may be generally a sloped planar (flat) portion along its
length or may be
5
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
somewhat of an angled curve. As shown herein, the interior surface 24
preferably has a
generally planar (flat) section 30 and a generally curved section 32, the
latter of which is
located in the area where the sloped portion 26 of the interior surface 24
approaches the bottom
surface portion 28 of the basin. The sloped, generally flat section 30 extends
downward from
the upper rim at an angle with the horizontal of about 25 to about 75 degrees,
preferably about
40 to about 60 degrees. If a curved section is included, a curved section 32
is preferably a
generally smooth curved portion at a lower end portion 34 of the generally
flat section that
transitions flow of liquid down the sloped surface portion into the bottom
surface portion of the
interior surface 24. See, Figs. 9 and 10, for example. Such a curve is easier
to manufacture
when the sink is made of chinaware, and is also typically easier to clean
having less sharp
transitions/corners.
[0032] At least partially down the sloped surface, in an upper portion
35 thereof, near the
upper rim, and preferably positioned slightly downwardly and displaced from
the upper rim is a
faucet member 36. The faucet member 36 is preferably mounted in a preferred
upwardly
extending mounting piece 38 extending out of the interior surface on the
sloped portion thereof.
The faucet member 36 may be slightly angled downwardly for ease of
installation and access to
internal plumbing connections. The faucet member direct waters toward the
sloped surface
portion of the interior surface. The faucet mounting piece 38 is preferably
positioned such that
it is about 8 to about 12 inches, preferably about 9 to about 10 inches from
the interior surface
on the outermost extending portion of the upper rim. The opening 40 in the
faucet member in a
spout 42 thereof is positioned so that it is transversely offset from a drain
opening in the bottom
surface portion 28 of the basin. The opening is preferably aligned so as to
direct liquid, such as
water, to flow over the sloped surface portion onto the bottom surface portion
28.
[0033] The faucet member 36 extends upwardly from an upper portion 35 of
the sloped
surface 26 to direct liquid flowing over the sloped surface portion,
preferably over the lower
curved section 32 and into a drain opening 42 in the bottom surface portion
28. The faucet
member 36 is positioned such that liquid from the faucet member flows onto the
sloped surface
portion into the bottom surface portion 28 and into the drain opening 42. The
faucet opening 40
is preferably positioned such that after the liquid exits the faucet opening
40, it contacts the
sloped surface portion 26 at the flat portion 30 thereof and then flows
towards the lower end
portion 34 of the generally flat section 30. The bottom surface portion 28 is
preferably also
configured so as to have an incline sloping downwardly toward the drain
opening 42. The
6
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
incline need not be too severe, and preferably varies from about 1 to about 15
degrees,
preferably about 2 to about 5 degrees. As can be see in the rear view of Fig.
6 the bottom
surface 28 will preferably curve slightly down to the drain.
[0034] The faucet member can have a variety of designs, including a
vertically straight
design, a slightly inclined design and the like. A slight incline as noted
above, can assist in
access during installation. The faucet may have various other design features
known or to be
developed in the art. Preferably the faucet is a design which is fixed in
position and is non-
rotational and non-movable so as to avoid potential splashing due to movement
of the faucet
member while in use. However, a moving faucet which can lock in place would
also be useful
in the invention. The manner in which the opening 40 of the faucet member is
aligned can be
such as to flow liquid straight downward at the vertical or at an angled with
respect to the
vertical. However it is configured, it should be designed so as to minimize
any impact of
splashing on its initial contact with the sloped surface portion and/or the
bottom surface portion
of the basin.
[0035] To the extent that handles are to be avoided for fighting germ
and/or bacterial
surfaces, it is preferred that the faucet member having an automatic sensor
44. See Figs. 1 and
2. Such a sensor may be any sensor known or to be developed in the art, for
example, the type
of sensor that activates faucet flow when a user interrupts an infrared signal
by hand motion.
Such automatic faucets are well known and should not be limiting to the
invention hereof The
sink may also further include a drain insert 46 having a drain cover 48. The
design of the drain
and drain cover may also vary including a number of those known in the art or
to be designed.
The drain may have a stopper with activation, but preferably, the drain is an
open drain to wash
away germs and/or bacteria down the drain. As shown in Fig. 6, standard piping
and/or hose
connections to run hot and/or cold liquid such as water into the faucet member
is preferably
provided and connected on one end to the faucet member and/or fixtures and/or
connectors
related thereto, and the other end of the piping and/or hose connections would
be attached to
and/or in fluid communication with a liquid supply source, such as a water
source.
[0036] The drain is positioned in a preferred embodiment in a recessed
portion 50 of the
bottom surface portion 28 of the interior surface. As shown in Figs. I, 5, 8
and 10, the sloped
surface portion 26 is designed so as to not extend over the entire width of
the basin as measured
transversely. Instead, as the sloped portion preferably extends downwardly
from the back
portion 18 of the upper rim, the portion having the faucet member 36 continues
downwardly to
7
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
the bottom surface in a sloped manner. In the area of the recessed portion 50,
the sloped
surface portion 26 drops downwardly in a more vertical manner so as to define
the recessed
portion 50 having the drain opening 42 therein. Thus, as the liquid under the
faucet runs down
the sloped surface portion 26 under less pressure to the bottom surface
portion 28, it enters a
smaller area of the bottom surface portion 28 and flows around to the recessed
portion 50 and
into the drain opening 42. It would be understood by one skilled in the art,
that the drain
opening can be formed in other locations in the bottom or even the side
surface, without
departing from the spirit of the invention so long as it is transversely
offset from the faucet
opening.
[0037] The sink basin may be made so as to have a depth adequate to
discourage splashing.
In configuring the basin, the sloped surface portion should be configured to
have a slope to
encourage smooth flow of liquid onto the bottom surface portion of the
interior surface of the
basin, but keeping in mind that to maintain the slope with inadequate depth
may make the sink
too large or of an impractical design. As shown in the preferred embodiment
herein, the
interior surface in the outermost (front) portion of the basin slopes
downwardly along the
interior surface also to direct any liquid that hit the interior surface on
the wall portion.
Preferably, the depth is about 7 to about 15 inches, preferably about 8 to
about 10 inches
measured vertically.
[0038] The sink and basin may be foinied of a variety of materials,
including ceramic as is
used with most sanitaryware, cleanable composite surface, molded thermoplastic
(polyolefin,
engineering plastics, acrylics, polycarbonates, and polyoxyalkylenes and the
like), which
materials may be filled or unfilled depending on the properties desired. The
material formed
for the sink and basin are preferably also formed so as to have a bacterial-
and/or germ-
resistant coating or material, and to be easily cleanable and disinfected with
cleaning materials.
[0039] The invention also includes a method of preventing splashing of
liquid from a sink.
In such a method, a sink is provided, which includes a basin, a faucet member
and a drain
opening. The sink, basin, faucet member and drain opening may be such as those
described
above. As noted above, the sink and basin are configured such that the faucet
member is
transversely offset from the drain opening. Liquid is introduced through the
faucet member so
that the liquid contacts the sloped surface before contacting the bottom
surface portion of the
basin, and then flows along the bottom surface portion of the basin into the
drain opening as
8
CA 02822928 2013-06-20
WO 2012/087302 PCT/US2010/061686
described hereinabove. The method may further include minimizing the spread of
germs and/or
bacteria in the liquid or in a biofilm having the liquid which comes through
the faucet member.
[0040] The sloped surface portion may be configured so as to have a
generally flat section
and an optional curved section as described above, wherein the curved section
may be located
in the area where the sloped surface approaches the bottom surface portion of
the basin. The
method may further include contacting the liquid to a lower end portion of the
generally flat
section prior to flowing over the curved section and onto the bottom surface.
The bottom
surface portion itself may also slope downwardly toward the drain opening as
described above.
The method may further include flowing the liquid from the faucet leaving the
sloped surface
along the bottom surface downwardly into the drain opening.
[0041] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes
could be made to the
embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept
thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular
embodiments disclosed,
but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the
present invention as
defined by the appended claims.
9
