WO2008138343A1

WO2008138343A1 - Coating or treatment by potentially hazardous products, such as liquid nano technology coating products

Info

Publication number: WO2008138343A1
Application number: PCT/DK2008/000182
Authority: WO
Inventors: Søren Johan LARSEN; Carsten Brysting
Original assignee: IDT-FORM HOLDING APS; IDT FORM Holding APS
Current assignee: IDT-FORM HOLDING APS; IDT FORM Holding APS
Priority date: 2007-05-16
Filing date: 2008-05-16
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-16
Also published as: EP1992571A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of dispensing means for application of products that are potentially hazardous to human beings or that may cause problems for the environment, on surfaces, objects etc. that are to be treated or coated with such products, whereby a potentially hazardous exposure of external or internal parts of the human body can be substantially avoided and/or whereby the application of said product can be made more environmentally friendly. Specifically said products are liquid nano technology coating products or vinyl make-up products. The invention furthermore relates to a coating or application method for potentially hazardous or environmentally harmful liquid products comprising the steps of: (1) providing a container for containing said liquid product; (2) providing an absorbing body that can absorb said liquid product; (3) providing fluid communication between said container and said absorbing body, whereby an amount of said liquid product can flow from said container to said absorbing body; and (4) applying said liquid product on portions to be treated/coated by said liquid product through contact of surface portions of said absorbing body with said portions to be treated/coated. The invention also relates to various dispensers used for application of the above-mentioned products.

Description

COATING OR TREATMENT BY POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS, SUCH AS LIQUID NANO TECHNOLOGY COATING PRODUCTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the use of means, such as dispenser devices, for coating or treatment of surfaces or objects with potentially hazardous products, such as liquid nano technology coating products or vinyl make-up products. More specifically the invention relates to methods for applying such product on surfaces, for instance on windscreens or other window portions of an automobile, on tiles in bathrooms or kitchens or on any other surfaces where such coatings may be used as well as methods for applying vinyl make-up on surfaces of components, such as dashboards etc. in automobiles. The invention furthermore relates to dispensing devises for such coating or application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nano particle coating material used for coating of windscreens, tiles etc. is traditionally applied by spraying directly on the windscreen, tile or other surface and subsequent polishing with a suitable piece of fabric. Alternatively, such material can be applied to a suitable piece of fabric at the manufacturer and enclosed in a hermetically sealing package, for instance of metal coated foil to maintain the fluid intact. Prior to the use the package is broken and the fabric is used for applying the fluid to the surface in question. Similarly, vinyl make-up for cleansing and coating various surfaces for instance in an automobile is typically sprayed on the surface to be treated.

There is a growing body of evidence to the effect that nano particles may be hazardous both to the person applying materials containing such particles and more generally to the environment. Thus nano particles accidentally entering the human body may cause damages to the brain and to the central nervous system. Similarly vinyl make-up contains solvents that also may prove harmful to the central nervous system of a human being. Also vinyl make-up may pose an environmental problem.

Consequently, it is advantageous to provide methods and means for a well-controlled application of said materials on surfaces, such as windscreens, other window portions and various other surfaces of for instance an automobile, tiles in bathrooms, kitchens etc. and any other surfaces and components where such materials may be applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and further problems are solved by to the uses, methods and dispensing devices according to the present invention.

According to a first aspect the present invention relates generally to the use of dispensing means for application of products that are potentially hazardous to human beings or that may cause problems for the environment on surfaces, objects etc. that are to be treated or coated with such products. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of dispensing means for applying nano technology coating products or vinyl make-up on surfaces, objects etc. to be treated/coated with such products.

Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention use of said dispensing means reduces the potential risks to persons or generally to the environment caused by for instance spraying such products onto surfaces or objects, or caused by using a fabric provided with said product to apply said product to a surface or object. Applying such products by spraying is hazardous due to the risk of minute particles being transported through the human air passages to the lungs or due to the risk of such particles unintentionally coming in contact with for instance skin portions of the body. At least the latter may also - and even to a larger extend - result from the application of such products using a fabric moistened with the product.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the treatment of surfaces or components in automobiles, bathrooms and kitchens, but that the use, method and devices according to the invention may be used for any surface that may be treated with the mentioned materials and indeed with any material that may pose health problems for persons applying such materials or problems for the environment.

According to a second aspect the present invention relates to a coating or application method for potentially hazardous or environmentally harmful liquid products comprising the steps of: providing a container for containing said liquid product; providing an absorbing body that can absorb said liquid product; providing fluid communication between said container and said absorbing body, whereby an amount of said liquid product can flow from said container to said absorbing body;

- applying said liquid product on portions to be treated/coated by said liquid product through contact of surface portions of said absorbing body with said portions to be treated/coated; whereby a potentially hazardous exposure of external or internal parts of the human body can be substantially avoided and/or whereby the application of said product can be made more environmentally friendly.

Specifically said potentially hazardous or environmentally harmful liquid products comprise a nano technology coating product or a vinyl make-up product.

According to a third aspect the present invention relates to a dispensing device for applying said potentially hazardous or environmentally harmful liquid products, such as a nano technology coating for instance on a windscreen or other window portions of an automobile and/or for applying vinyl make-up on portions of for instance an automobile, the device comprising a container for containing said liquid product, such as a liquid nano technology coating product or vinyl make-up and an absorbing body, where the device furthermore comprises a fluid passage allowing said liquid product, such as a nano technology coating product or vinyl make-up to flow from said container to said absorbing body, when the dispensing device is being used or is about to be used.

According to a preferred embodiment said container is formed as a handle portion of the dispensing device, by which the dispensing device is held by the user during application of material, such as nano technology coating material or vinyl make-up to surfaces etc. that are to be treated or coated herewith. The handle can either be made of a rigid material or can be made at least partially compressible, whereby the liquid material in the hollow interior of the handle portion can be forced out of the handle portion and into the absorbing body.

During use the absorbing body, now at least partly filled with the material to be applied, is brought into contact with the surfaces to be treated or coated with the material, and the absorbing body is moved over these surfaces, preferably during application of a slight pressure on the absorbing body, whereby the liquid material is squeezed out of the absorbing body and unto the surface that is in contact with the absorbing body.

Preferably, although not necessarily, fluid communication from the container or handle portion to the absorbing body is controlled by appropriate valve means that can be activated when pressure is applied to the absorbing body. A specific example of such valve means is given in the detailed description of the invention, but the invention is not limited to the application of the shown valve means or for that matter to the presence of valve means at all for controlling fluid flow from the container/handle to the absorbing body.

Some specific embodiments of a dispensing device according to the invention will be described in the detailed description of the invention, but it is understood that other designs may also embody the invention as defined by the independent claims.

Preferably, the method according to the invention is carried out using an integrated unit comprising said container and said absorbing body, such that said fluid communication is only provided when said material, such as liquid nano technology coating product or vinyl make-up is applied on, or to be applied on, said surface portions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention said fluid communication is established by activation of valve means provided in a fluid passage leading from said container to said absorbing body.

Alternative or as a supplement said material, such as liquid nano technology coating product or vinyl make-up can be forced from said container to said absorbing body by applying a pressure on the container. In this case the container could be made at least partially compressible, although forcing the product out of the container could also be effected by other means. Preferably the container can be formed as a handle upon which the absorbing body is provided and said pressure can be applied by the hand of the person applying said liquid nano technology coating product or vinyl make-up to the chosen surface portions.

It is as mentioned understood that the dispensing device and method according to the present invention may also beneficially be applied in connection with other products than the nano technology coating and vinyl make-up products described in this specification. By the application of a dispensing device and method according to the invention the potentially hazardous spray application of such materials is avoided. Furthermore, these materials are largely prevented from coming in contact with the hands and other external as well as internal parts of the user. The dispensing device according to the invention may according to one alternative be pre-filled at the manufacturer with the liquid product, such as a nano technology coating product or vinyl make-up and afterwards closed without the user being able to open the container and re-fill the particular material. After emptying the container the dispensing device is then discarded and a new purchased. Alternatively, the dispensing device can comprise a separate container portion and a separate dispenser portion that can be releasably attached to each other, whereby the container, when empty, can be refilled with the particular material. Some specific embodiments of dispensing devices according to the invention are described in detail in the detailed description of the invention, but it is understood that these embodiments are only to be regarded as non-limiting examples of application or dispensing means that can be used according to the invention. Although only a first of these embodiments specifically comprises valve means it is, however, understood that any embodiments of dispensing devices according to the invention could comprise such or equivalent valve means for controlling the fluid communication between a container, containing the material to be dispensed, and the absorbing body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment hereof taken in conjunction with the figures of the drawing, where

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional elevation of a first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic, perspective cross sectional view of the embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention shown in figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a valve arrangement for use in the device according to the invention;

Figure 4(a) and (b) show a second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention; and Figure 5(a) and (b) show a third embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to figure 1 there is thus shown a schematic, cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention. The device, generally designated by reference numeral 1 , comprises a hollow handle portion 2 with an inner volume 3 for containing the nano particle material or vinyl make-up to be applied to a surface. At the upper end (as seen in the figure) the handle portion is terminated by the dispenser, which basically comprises support member 9, which in the shown embodiment is formed as a substantially planar disc, although other shapes would be possible. The support member is provided with a tubular portion 8 formed for releasable and sealing insertion into a corresponding tubular portion 7 provided at the upper end region of the handle portion. On the upper surface of the support member 9 there is provided an absorbing body 12, for instance a sponge with an upper surface 21 opposite the support member 9. In the shown embodiment a valve means, purely schematically indicated at reference numeral 10 in figure 1 , can be activated by means of a rod 11 , extending from the valve means and a certain distance into the absorbing body 12. As indicated the rod 11 may only extend partly through the absorbing body 12, although it may also extend totally through the absorbing body 12, with a distal end (i.e. opposite the valve means) being substantially flush with the upper surface 21 of the absorbing body 12. When the valve means is activated a fluid passage is provided between the volume 3 in the hollow handle portion 2, through the tubular portion 8 and the valve means and into the absorbing body 12, which can hence absorb a liquid product present in the hollow interior of the handle portion. When a pressure is applied on the upper surface 21 of the absorbing member 12 (towards the support member 9) the valve means opens and provides fluid communication between the internal volume 3 of the handle portion 2 and the absorbing body 12.

The handle portion can either be made of a rigid material or it can alternatively be made of a suitable flexible material, whereby the handle portion may be at least to some extend compressible, whereby fluid in the interior volume may be pressed out of the interior volume of the handle portion, provided the valve is open. The dispensing device can be provided with a protective cap 13, protecting the absorbing body 12. The cap 13 may towards the dispensing device be provided with engagement means for releasable engagement with corresponding means on the upper end region of the handle portion. In the embodiment shown in figure 1 these corresponding engagement means comprise a suitably shaped - rounded - protruding circumferential edge portion 6 on the cap and a corresponding circumferential recess 5 on the handle portion. The complementary solution, i.e. a circumferential recess on the cap and a corresponding circumferential protrusion on the handle portion may of cause also be used. Many other attachment means would, however, also be possible.

Referring to figure 2 there is shown a schematic, perspective cross sectional view of the embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention shown in figure 1. The figure shows one example of an ergonomically correct form of the handle portion 2, but other shapes of handle portions are possible, for instance in accordance with specific applications. The handle portion may for instance comprise flexible (compressible) lateral hand grip portions and a substantially rigid top part (facing the dispenser) and bottom part 14.

Referring to figure 3 there is shown an embodiment of a valve for use in the dispensing device according to the invention. The valve is shown inserted into the support member 9 of the dispenser, through which support member 9 there is provided a conical passage 15. The valve member comprises a tubular member 16 provided with an attachment portion 19 for attachment to the tubular portion 8 and a conical valve closure member 17 is formed for sealing co-operation with the valve seat formed by an upper conical portion 18 of the conical passage 15 through the support member 9. An intermediate longitudinally compressible and expandable portion of the valve means is formed by elongated, flexible members 20 connecting the valve closure member 17 and the tubular member 16. The valve is furthermore provided with an actuating rod 11 embedded in the absorbing body 12 of the dispenser. When pressure is applied to the upper surface 21 (see figure 1) of the absorbing body 12 the rod 11 is displaced in a direction towards the valve means and hence the valve means opens. When the pressure is released the valve means closes.

It is understood that the above as well as other valve arrangements could be applied in any embodiments of the dispensing device according to the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Referring to figure 4(a) and (b) there is shown a second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 21. This embodiment comprises a hollow handle portion 24 that can accommodate the liquid product to be dispensed. Prior to application this handle portion 24 is attached to the holder means 22 (for instance by engagement of a threaded end surface portion of the handle 24 with a corresponding threaded internal surface portion of the holder means 22), whereby fluid communication is established between the inner volume of the handle portion and the absorbing member 23. The absorbing member thus becomes filled with the liquid product and can be applied to a surface by contact between the surface and the absorbing member. A pressure may be applied, if needed, to force liquid product from the absorbing member to the surface. As shown in figure 4(b) the absorbing member can have a substantially triangular shape with marked corner portions 25 (but it is not limited to such a shape), which corner portions 25 may facilitate access to certain portions of surfaces to be treated.

Referring to figure 5(a) and (b) there is shown a third embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 26. This embodiment is shown in cross section in figure 5(b) and comprises a hollow handle portion 30 with an internal cavity 31 for accommodation of the liquid product to be dispensed, this portion being in fluid communication through a handle passage 32 with an internal cavity 33 provided in the main body 27 of the dispenser. In the main body 27 there is attached an absorbing body 28 that can be filled with the liquid product provided from the internal handle cavity 31 through the passage 32. The dispenser may furthermore be provided with a removable protective cover 29. The cover 29 serves the dual purpose of protecting the absorbing body 28 when the dispensing device is not in use and to prevent fluid from evaporating when the absorbing body 28 is covered by the cover 29.

In practice any of the dispensing means could be purchased either as a complete unit, i.e. a unit comprising both the dispenser means as such comprising the absorbing member 12, 23, 28 and optionally valve systems for instance as described above and the hollow handle portion 2, 24, 30 containing the liquid material to be dispensed. Alternatively, however, the dispenser means including the absorbing member and the handle portion may be sold separately, whereby a user can discard the handle portion, when emptied, and buy a new - filled - handle portion, which he can attach the disperser part. In order to minimize potential health risk as well as in order to provide an environmentally optimal solution an embodiment of dispenser means and corresponding handle portion according to the invention comprises the opening of the handle portion being covered by a protective film, that seals the inner cavity of the handle portion, containing the liquid to be dispensed, hermetically from the surroundings and the portion of the dispenser part upon which the handle portion is to be attached can according to an embodiment of the invention be provided with means (such as a thin pointed structure) for puncturing or breaking the protective film provided over the opening of the handle portion and thereby providing fluid communication between the inner cavity of the handle portion and the dispenser means. The handle portion can be provided with a cap, for instance screwed onto the end of the handle portion and protecting the thin film and immediately prior to attachment of the handle portion to the dispenser portion the protective cap is removed from the handle portion.

By the provision of said protective film over the opening to the inner cavity of the handle portion and the perforation means provided in the dispenser portion the user is largely prevented from coming in contact with the liquid in the handle portion and also the risk of gradual evaporation of the liquid in the handle portion for instance during storage is largely prevented.

Claims

1. The use of dispensing means for application of products that are potentially hazardous to human beings or that may cause problems for the environment, on surfaces, objects etc. that are to be treated or coated with such products, whereby a potentially hazardous exposure of external or internal parts of the human body can be substantially avoided and/or whereby the application of said product can be made more environmentally friendly.

2. Thus use according to claim 1 , where said products are liquid nano technology coating products or vinyl make-up products.

3. A coating or application method for potentially hazardous or environmentally harmful liquid products comprising the steps of: providing a container for containing said liquid product; - providing an absorbing body that can absorb said liquid product; providing fluid communication between said container and said absorbing body, whereby an amount of said liquid product can flow from said container to said absorbing body; applying said liquid product on portions to be treated/coated by said liquid product through contact of surface portions of said absorbing body with said portions to be treated/coated; whereby a potentially hazardous exposure of external or internal parts of the human body can be substantially avoided and/or whereby the application of said product can be made more environmentally friendly.

4. A method according to claim 3, where said products are liquid nano technology coating products or vinyl make-up products.

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, where said fluid communication is established by activation of valve means provided in a fluid passage leading from said container to said absorbing body.

6. A method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, where said liquid product is forced from said container to said absorbing body by applying a pressure on the container, the container being at least partially compressible.

7. A method according to claim 1 , where said provision of fluid communication comprises breaking or puncturing of a protective film provided over an outlet opening of said container.

8. A dispensing device for applying potentially hazardous or environmentally harmful liquid products, such as a nano technology coating and/or a vinyl make-up product to surfaces to be treated/coated with such products, where the dispensing device comprises a container (2, 24, 30) for containing said liquid product comprising a fluid outlet and an absorbing body (12, 23, 28), where the device furthermore comprises a fluid passage (8, 22, 32) allowing said liquid product to flow from said container (2, 24, 30) to said absorbing body (12, 23, 28), when the dispensing device is being used.

9. A dispensing device according to claim 8, where said fluid passage (8) is provided with valve means (10) that are activated during use of the device.

10. A dispensing device according to claim 9, where said valve means (10) is in contact with said absorbing body (12), such that when a pressure is applied to an upper surface (21) of the absorbing body (12) the valve means (10) is opened, such that fluid may flow from said container (2) through said passage (8) and into the absorbing body (12).

11. A dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 10, where said container (2) is formed by a handle portion of the dispensing device.

12. A dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 11 , where said absorbing body (12) is provided on a support member (9), through which support member (9) said valve means (10), upon activation of the valve means, provides fluid communication to said passage (8) leading to the interior volume (3) of the container (2).

13. A dispensing device according to claim 12, where said support member (9) comprises a portion (8) adapted to releasable engagement with a co-operating portion (7) provided on end portion of the container (2), whereby fluid may be supplied to the inner volume (3) of the container (2), when the support member (9) is removed from the container (2).

14. A dispensing device according to claim 8, where said handle portion of the dispensing device is compressible, such that fluid during use of the dispensing device by compressing the handle portion may be forced out of the inner volume (3) of the handle portion and into the absorbing body (12).

15. A dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 14, where the device is provided with a protective cab (13) covering the absorbing body (12), when the device is not in use.

16. A dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 15, where said container (2, 24, 30) is provided with a protective film covering said fluid outlet from the container, when the container is not attached to the dispenser and where the dispensing device furthermore is provided with means for puncturing or breaking said protective film, when the container is attached to the dispenser, whereby said liquid product can flow from said container (2, 24, 30) to said absorbing body (12, 23, 28), when the dispensing device is being used.