# US 2010/0163569 A1 · Publicly-accessible moist hand cleaning wipe station

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- Number: US 2010/0163569 A1
- Document ID: US20100163569A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/380,481
- Filed: 2009-02-27
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2005-06-28
- Assignees: Handago, LLC
- Inventors: Kimberly A. Parker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163569A1

## CPC

- A47K 10/3818: {with a distribution opening which is perpendicular to the rotation axis}
- A47K 10/46: with means for storing soiled towels
- A47K 2010/3266: {Wet wipes}
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES

## Abstract

An integrated, self-contained hand sanitizer station is provided by this invention. The enclosure of the station may be located in a public venue, and conveniently dispenses wet wipe towelettes for people to clean their hands without resort to soap and water. A trash receptacle contained within the station enables ready disposal of the towelettes by the patrons after their use. By making a good hand hygiene available to customers, a merchant or public authority can help to reduce germs, viruses, and bacteria that can otherwise cause the spread of infectious illnesses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for cleaning a user's hands in a public place comprising:
(a) the user taking a moist towelette from an integrated, self-contained station located within such public place without readily accessible soap and water, such station comprising:
(i) an enclosure having a side wall and a top wall for defining an interior zone;
(ii) at least one outlet opening formed in one of the enclosure walls for communicating with the interior zone;
(iii) an inlet opening formed in one of the enclosure walls for communicating with the interior zone;
(iv) a plurality of moist towelettes impregnated with a cleaning solution located inside the interior zone, wherein a leading edge of the first towelette partially extends through the outlet opening, and is interconnected to the second towelette with each towelette being interconnected to the following towelette, so that the first towelette may be pulled through the outlet opening to separate it from the next towelette, which draws the leading edge of the second towelette through the outlet opening, the separated first towelette being used to clean the hands;
(v) means for securing the plurality of moist towelettes inside the interior zone within close proximity of the outlet opening;
(vi) a trash receptacle located inside the interior zone of the enclosure;
(b) the user wiping her hands with the moist towelette to clean her hands without use of a separate supply of soap and water; and
(c) the user inserting the used towelette through the inlet opening of the station, so that it falls into the trash receptacle located inside the second interior zone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution impregnating the moist towelette quickly evaporates after application to the user's hands.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution includes soap.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution includes a disinfectant.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution includes a germicide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of towelettes comprise bipartite individual panels that are folded onto each other so that one panel drawings forth the next panel by surface contact.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of towelettes comprise a roll having a plurality of panels formed by serrated lines across the roll transverse to the direction in which the leading edge of the roll is pulled.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hand cleaning method of claim 1, wherein the user is a customer visiting a restaurant, school or corporate cafeteria, food court, sports stadium, gymnasium, exercise facility, nursing home, daycare center, diaper changing station, school, bank, casino, airport, cruise ship, hospital, doctor's waiting room, petting zoo, kennel, veterinary clinic, portable outdoor toilet, or other public place where germs may be present, and soap and water is not present.

### Claim 9

An integrated, self-contained station for cleaning a user's hands, comprising:
(a) an enclosure located within a public place without readily accessible soap and water having a side wall and a top wall defining an interior zone;
(b) at least one outlet opening formed in one of the enclosure walls for communicating with the interior zone;
(c) an inlet opening formed in one of the enclosure walls for communicating with the interior zone;
(d) a plurality of moist towelettes impregnated with a cleaning solution located inside the first interior zone, wherein a leading edge of the first towelette partially extends through the outlet opening, and is interconnected to the second towelette with each towelette being interconnected to the following towelette, so that the first towelette may be pulled through the outlet opening to separate it from the next towelette, which draws the leading edge of the second towelette through the outlet opening, the separated first towelette being used to clean the hands;
(e) means for securing the plurality of moist towelettes inside the interior zone within close proximity of the outlet opening;
(f) a trash receptacle located inside the interior zone of the enclosure, so that upon insertion of the used towelette through the inlet opening, it falls into the trash receptacle;
(g) an enclosure wall of such interior zone having a movable door for allowing removal of the trash receptacle from the interior zone; and
(h) wherein such moist towelette is employed to clean a user's hands without a separate source of soap and water.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9, wherein the means for securing the plurality of moist towelettes in close proximity of the outlet opening comprises a wire basket secured to at least two interior surfaces of the side walls, such wire basket holding the towelettes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9 further comprising a rubber nipple secured to the exterior surface of the outlet opening and having a hole for allowing passage of the leading edge of the first towlette to enhance access by the user to the towlette and enhance sanitation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9, wherein the enclosure is made from plastic.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The hand cleaning station of claim 10, wherein such plastic comprises blow-molded plastic.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9, wherein the outlet opening and inlet opening are both located on a side wall or the top wall of the enclosure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9, wherein the top wall is hinged with respect to the side wall.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9, wherein the towelettes are made from biodegradable material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9 further comprising a sealed package containing the moist towelettes inside the interior zone to reduce the contact of air with the moist towelettes inside such interior zone.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The hand cleaning station of claim 9 further including a written marketing or advertising indicia displayed on the surface of at least one wall of the enclosure.