Emergency eye wash system

Abstract

An emergency eye wash system having a support panel and a pair of brackets for holding two bag assemblies containing sterile and sealed eye wash solution. The bag assemblies are connected by hoses to a pair of nozzles mounted on a pivotal tray assembly. When the system is dormant, the tray assembly is in a vertical closed position. When there is an emergency, a user pulls on a pivotal handle to puncture membranes in the hoses and to lower the tray assembly to cause flow from the bags to the nozzles to the user's face.

1 . An eye wash station comprising:
 a source of eye wash fluid;   a spray nozzle; and   a movable conduit defining a flow path between the source of eye wash fluid and the spray nozzle;   the flow path being closed to fluid flow when the conduit is in a first position and being opened to enable the eye wash fluid to flow to the spray nozzle by movement of the conduit from the first position to a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 the source of eye wash fluid, the spray nozzle and the conduit are disposed in a housing. 
 
     
     
         3 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 1  including:
 a membrane for closing the flow path; and 
 a membrane piercing element disposed for engagement with the membrane upon movement of the conduit. 
 
     
     
         4 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 3  wherein:
 the membrane piercing element is structured and dimensioned to puncture the membrane and to move the membrane out of a fluid interfering position and to maintain the membrane in a non-interfering position enabling the eye wash fluid to flow to the spray nozzle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 3  wherein: the membrane is connected to the conduit and the membrane piercing element is connected to the nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 5  wherein: the nozzle and the piercing element are stationary during movement of the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 4  wherein: the membrane piercing element is cylindrically shaped with a sharp edge. 
     
     
         8 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 1  including:
 a retainer clip removably mounted to the conduit for maintaining the conduit in the first position. 
 
     
     
         9 . The eye wash station of  claim 1  including:
 a housing having a movable tray; 
 the source of eye wash fluid being mounted in the housing; and 
 the spray nozzle being mounted on the tray. 
 
     
     
         10 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 9  including: a support structure to which the housing is mounted, the support structure also supporting the source of eye washing fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 9  including: a handle mounted to the tray for moving the conduit from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 11  wherein:
 the tray is pivotal and supports the nozzle, the handle and the movable conduit; and 
 the tray is movable between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position. 
 
     
     
         13 . An eye wash station comprising:
 at least one bag providing a source of eye wash fluid; a spray nozzle; and   a conduit defining a flow path between the source of eye wash fluid and the spray nozzle;   the flow path being closed to fluid flow when the conduit is in a first position and being opened to enable the eye wash fluid to flow to the spray nozzle by movement of the conduit from the first position to a second position.   
     
     
         14 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 13  wherein:
 the bag, the spray nozzle and the conduit are disposed in a housing. 
 
     
     
         15 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 13  including:
 a membrane for closing the flow path; and 
 a membrane piercing element disposed for engagement with the membrane upon movement of the conduit. 
 
     
     
         16 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 15  wherein:
 the membrane piercing element is structured and dimensioned to puncture the membrane and to move the membrane out of a fluid interfering position and to maintain the membrane in a non-interfering position enabling the eye wash fluid to flow to the spray nozzle. 
 
     
     
         17 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 15  wherein:
 the membrane is connected to the conduit and the membrane piercing element is connected to the nozzle. 
 
     
     
         18 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 17  wherein:
 the nozzle and the membrane piercing element are stationary during movement of the conduit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 16  wherein:
 the membrane piercing element is cylindrically shaped with a sharp edge. 
 
     
     
         20 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 13  including:
 a retainer clip removably mounted to the conduit for maintaining the conduit in the first position. 
 
     
     
         21 . The eye wash station of  claim 13  including:
 a housing having a movable tray; 
 the source of eye wash fluid being mounted in the housing; and 
 the spray nozzle being mounted on the tray. 
 
     
     
         22 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 21  including:
 a support structure to which the housing is mounted, the support structure also supporting the bag. 
 
     
     
         23 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 21  including:
 a handle mounted to the housing for moving the conduit from the first position to the second position. 
 
     
     
         24 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 23  wherein:
 the tray is pivotal and supports the nozzle, the handle and the movable conduit, and 
 the tray is movable between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position. 
 
     
     
         25 . The eye wash station as claimed in  claim 24  including:
 a blocking element mounted to said housing for interfering with movement of said tray from said open position to said closed position.