Hand sanitizer device

Abstract

A device that applies liquid soap and/or hand sanitizer to a user's hand when the user manually actuates the flush mechanism of a toilet or urinal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for use with a toilet facility having a manual flush actuator, for applying liquid to a user's hand when the user manipulates the flush actuator, the device comprising:
 a reservoir for containing liquid;   a dispenser for dispensing liquid responsive to a compressive force and in use located at a manual flush actuator; and   a conduit connecting the reservoir and dispenser for permitting liquid to flow from the reservoir to the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises:
 a housing having a port connected to the conduit for receiving liquid from the reservoir;   a finger pad configured to permit liquid to pass therethrough, and movably attached to the housing so as to permit limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing, the finger pad and housing defining an internal volume, the size of which internal volume depending on the movement of the finger pad relative to the housing; and   a liquid holder, being an absorbent material contained within the internal volume, wherein the liquid holder and housing define a liquid chamber in fluid communication with the port;   whereby hand manipulation of the finger pad relative to the housing so as to reduce size of the internal volume compresses the liquid holder causing liquid to pass through the finger pad to the user's hand.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent material is a sponge material. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the sponge material is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the vertical dimension of the liquid chamber between the housing and a portion of the PVA sponge overlying the liquid chamber is about ¼″ and the vertical dimension of the overlying portion of the PVA sponge is about ⅛″. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the finger pad is pivotally movably attached to the housing whereby the limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing is pivotal movement. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is liquid hand soap. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is hand sanitizer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is integral with the manual flush actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a substantially rigid vessel having a vent. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is collapsible. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is refillable. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the toilet facility includes a tank for holding water for use in flushing and the reservoir is in use located within the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the toilet facility includes a tank for holding water for use in flushing and having a tank lid, and the reservoir is integral to the tank lid. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 2 , for use with a single-action top-mounted flush actuator, wherein the device further comprises a mount for movably supporting the dispenser relative to the flush actuator so as to permit limited linear movement of the dispenser relative to the flush actuator, and wherein the dispenser includes a member for engaging the flush actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 2 , for use with a double-action top-mounted flush actuator having two side-by-side buttons by which the user may selectively actuate flushing with a larger or smaller volume of water, by depressing the appropriate button, wherein:
 the finger pad is pivotally movably attached to the housing wherein the pivot axis substantially bisects the finger pad whereby the limited movement of the finger pad relative to the housing is a two-way see-saw movement; and   the housing includes a double-button actuator, being a flexible impermeable membrane spanning the bottom of the housing;   wherein, in use the dispenser is positioned above the flush actuator such that manually pivoting the finger pad one way relative to the housing causes the liquid holder to impart a depressive force to one of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator and manually pivoting the finger pad the other way relative to the housing causes the liquid holder to impart a depressive force to the other of the side-by-side buttons through the double-button actuator.