Personal decontamination apparatus and method

Abstract

A personal decontamination apparatus includes an adapter valve attachable to a water source for mixing water with a concentrated decontamination fluid for rapid detoxifying washing of the skin of a user exposed to toxic chemical, biological or nuclear radioactive substances.

1 . Personal decontamination apparatus for connecting a hose spigot to a shower head comprising: 
 a connector having one end for coupling to said hose spigot;    said connector having a second end with a first outlet for receiving one end of a shower hose and a second outlet for receiving a hose coupling different in size from said shower hose;    a spraying dispenser having an input orifice coupled to a second end of said shower hose and an output orifice coupled to said shower head, said spraying dispenser having a discharge lever; and    a reservoir connected to said spraying dispenser containing concentrated decontamination fluid for delivering said fluid to said spraying dispenser when said discharge lever is depressed.    
   
   
       2 . Personal decontamination apparatus of  claim 1  in which said connector has a knob for selecting said first or second outlet for delivery of water from said hose spigot.  
   
   
       3 . Personal decontamination apparatus of  claim 2  in which quick disconnects are employed at both ends of said hose and said shower head.  
   
   
       4 . The personal decontamination apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said reservoir further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said reservoir.    
   
   
       5 . Personal decontamination apparatus comprising: 
 a housing containing first and second chambers;    the first chamber containing water with an air space and the second chamber containing concentrated decontamination fluid;    means for pressurizing the water within said first chamber, said second chamber being vented;    a first dip tube extending into and out of said first chamber having a first open end within the water contained therein and a second end terminating in a nozzle;    said first dip tube having a venturi section outside of said first chamber;    a second dip tube having an open first end within second chamber immersed in said concentrated decontamination fluid and a second end terminating in a throat portion of said venturi section;    a valve in said first dip tube between said venturi section and said first chamber; and    a lever for opening said valve to cause water to flow from said first chamber through said venturi section and out through said nozzle entraining decontamination fluid from said second chamber.    
   
   
       6 . The personal decontamination apparatus of  claim 5  in which said pressurizing means comprises a manual compressor having large bellows and a smaller tapered bellows in parallel relationship with a hollow handle for said housing on one side of both said bellows and a coupling bar joining opposite sides of said bellows, both of said bellows communicating with an interior of said handle through check valves for delivering compressed air into said hollow handle as said coupling bar is pressed toward said hollow handle, each of said bellows having an inlet check valve for the intake of ambient air, said hollow handle having a conduit for delivering compressed air into said first chamber for pressurizing said first chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 5  wherein said housing further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contacts of said housing.    
   
   
       8 . A shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand comprising: 
 an adapter mounted between a shower head and a water supply pipe;    said adapter having a passageway between said shower head and said water supply for delivering water to said shower head;    said passageway having a venturi section with a siphon port;    a bottle having a venting orifice containing said decontamination fluid attached to said adapter and communicating with said siphon port so that flow of water to said shower head will draw contamination fluid from said bottle into a stream of water flowing through said venturi section;    a coupling assembly for attaching said bottle to said adapter; and    said coupling assembly having a latch for attaching to or releasing said bottle from said adapter.    
   
   
       9 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 8  wherein said bottle further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said bottle.    
   
   
       10 . A personal decontamination apparatus adapted to a water source for rapidly disinfecting persons exposed to toxic substances comprising: 
 an adapter valve attachable to a water source;    said adapter valve mixing water with a concentrated decontamination fluid from a separate canister integral with said adapter valve, wherein the adapter valve mixes said concentrated decontamination fluid for rapid discharge of said mixture through a spraying dispenser head for detoxifying washing of the skin of a user.    
   
   
       11 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said concentrated decontamination fluid is contained within a canister and mixes with fresh water within a mixing valve within said personal decontamination apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said concentrated decontamination fluid is a mixture of five percent (5%) chlorine cleanser.  
   
   
       13 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the water source is a building water pipe.  
   
   
       14 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said water source is a hose spigot.  
   
   
       15 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said water source is a portable water bag.  
   
   
       16 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said water bag is attached to a portable shower.  
   
   
       17 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the personal decontamination apparatus comprises a self-drenching, hand held, pressurized pistol having a pre-determined amount of water in a first canister therein and said cleanser in a second canister wherein said hand held, pressurized pistol includes a valve for mixing of said water and said cleanser; 
 wherein said hand held, pressurized pistol further includes a spraying dispenser for directed flow of water therefrom and a trigger activating said flow of water and cleanser therefrom.    
   
   
       18 . The personal decontamination apparatus as in  claim 11  wherein said canister further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said canister.    
   
   
       19 . A method for uniformly delivering a concentrated decontamination fluid to a body having skin exposure to toxic substances, comprising the steps of placing a concentrated decontamination fluid from a source thereof within a reservoir, coupling said concentrated decontamination fluid from said reservoir to an adapter valve communicating through a connector with a source of pressurized water, mixing said water and said concentrated decontamination fluid and jettisoning said mixture of said solution and said water from said reservoir through a discharge nozzle spray onto the skin of a person exposed to a toxic substance, said connector being connected to at least one of a standard showerhead connection or an outdoor house spigot, said connector having a two-way valve to select the desired receptacle, said connector also having a back flow preventer and a coupling mating with a hose.  
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 19  further comprising the step of providing a portable fluid jettison housing including said reservoir, where said reservoir communicates with an adapter having a user-activated trigger for activating flow of the mixture of concentrated decontamination fluid and water therefrom to said spraying dispenser.  
   
   
       21 . The method as in  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving injured skin of a user exposed to a toxic substance, treating a portion of the skin with a rapid jettison of a mixture of a concentrated decontamination fluid and water from a spraying dispenser to the skin of the user.    
   
   
       22 . The method as in  claim 21  wherein the supply of water and concentrated decontamination fluid is from a portable supply of concentrated decontamination fluid and a portable supply of water.  
   
   
       23 . The method as in  claim 21  wherein the application of said concentrated decontamination fluid is from a user hand held spray dispenser having a reservoir flow adapter valve mixing said mixture.  
   
   
       24 . The method as in  claim 23 , wherein said mixture includes a mixture of 5 percent chlorine and water.  
   
   
       25 . The method as in  claim 24  wherein the concentrated decontamination fluid is provided in pre-determined disposal units per pre-determined area of skin exposed to said toxic substances.  
   
   
       26 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein said source of water is a source of pressurized water; 
 said method further comprising the steps of connecting a connector to at least one of a standard showerhead connection or an outdoor house spigot, said connector having a two-way valve to select the desired receptacle, said connector also having a back flow preventer and a coupling mating with a hose; and,    providing a liquid spraying dispenser valve mixing said pressurized water with a concentrated decontamination fluid through a discharge nozzle spray.    
   
   
       27 . The method as in  claim 26  wherein said connector is alternately connectable to a building exterior source of water, a building interior source of water and/or a portable water bag.  
   
   
       28 . The method as in  claim 21  wherein said rapid jettison further includes pressurizing said source of water with an output source and an aerosol dispenser; and; 
 propelling and jettisoning said mixture of water and concentrated decontamination fluid from a spraying dispenser.    
   
   
       29 . The method as in  claim 28  wherein said compressed air is manually supplied through a compressor.  
   
   
       30 . The method as in  claim 29  wherein the compressor is a dual bellows compressor.  
   
   
       31 . The method as in  claim 28  wherein: 
 a discharge valve and user-activated discharge trigger operate a spray dispenser.    
   
   
       32 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein: 
 a user selectable knob operates a selector valve coupling said connector to a desired water source.    
   
   
       33 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein said source of decontamination fluid further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said source.    
   
   
       34 . A fluid dispenser apparatus for decontamination of persons exposed to toxic substances comprising: 
 an aerosol dispenser having a user handle and a user-operable discharge trigger;    said discharge trigger communicating with a chamber filled with water and a second chamber filled with a concentrated decontamination fluid, wherein user-activation of said trigger controls feed of said water source and said concentrated decontamination fluid valve, communicates with a discharge valve of said spray dispenser.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus as in  claim 34  wherein the chamber includes a first a dip tube leading from said chamber of water to a mixing valve and said apparatus includes a further dip tube communicating with a chamber of concentrated decontamination fluid; and, 
 said discharge valve of said spray dispenser further having a venturi restriction section for control of flow of fluid therethrough.    
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as in  claim 35  wherein said venturi section is set below atmospheric pressure to draw said concentrated decontamination fluid therethrough.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus as in  claim 36  wherein said user handle includes a manually operable compressor assembly, including a first bellows and a second bellows, feeding compressed air into said handle, which said compressed air is discharged to jettison said water source from said spray dispenser.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus as in  claim 37  wherein said manually operable compressor assembly includes an asymmetric dual bellows configuration promoting rapid pressure build up of a chamber at a low atmospheric pressure, as well as high terminal pressure; 
 wherein further a large bellows draws in ambient air through an intake check valve and discharges compressed air through an outlet check valve on a compression stroke; and    wherein further a small tapered bellows contributes compressed air to the interior of said hollow handle;    said bellows operating independently and in parallel for rapid building up of pressure when said handle is squeezed repeatedly;    wherein further said large bellows includes a pre-determined back pressure preventing further squeezing thereof when squeezing of said smaller bellows continues.    and a discharge valve jettisoning said compressed air from said handle to jettison said mixture from said spray dispenser of said zero leakage long term storage dispenser.    
   
   
       39 . The apparatus as in  claim 34  wherein said aerosol dispenser further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said aerosol dispenser.    
   
   
       40 . An apparatus for decontamination of skin exposed to a toxic substance comprising: 
 an aerosol controlled source of a mixture of concentrated decontamination fluid and water and a discharge valve, said decontamination apparatus further comprising a discharge pressure regulator for discharging a pre-determined amount of propellant for jettisoning said mixture through a spray dispenser.    
   
   
       41 . The apparatus as in  claim 40  wherein said aerosol controlled source further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said aerosol controlled source.    
   
   
       42 . A shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand for decontaminating the skin of a person exposed to toxic substances comprising: 
 a showerhead adapter, wherein said showerhead adapter communicates with a domestic water supply or a portable water bag and a portable shower;    said adapter further comprising a fluid flow controller communicating with a pre-determined canister of a concentrated decontamination fluid in a control valve controlling flow of water through said showerhead and a valve drawing said concentrated decontamination fluid from said attached canister and mixing said water and said concentrated decontamination fluid through a spray dispenser of said showerhead fixture.    
   
   
       43 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 42  wherein said fluid flow controller is a venturi siphon section connected between a water supply pipe and a showerhead, wherein said canister of concentrated decontamination fluid is attached to a siphon port with a release button; 
 said canister having a pre-determined flow of concentrated decontamination fluid and a vent controlling flow of ambient air entering said container, said vent preventing vapor lock thereof.    
   
   
       44 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 41  wherein said venturi siphon section includes an interior curvature reducing pressure loss with a diameter reduction at a siphon tap for effective mixing of said concentrated decontamination fluid with said water at reduced flow rates for providing a uniform concentration of water and concentrated decontamination fluid therefrom and controlling flow rate therethrough.  
   
   
       45 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 44  wherein said canister of concentrated decontamination fluid is threaded for user access thereto.  
   
   
       46 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 45  further comprising: 
 a quick lock connector communicating with said venturi siphon adapter.    
   
   
       47 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 46  further comprising: 
 a dip tube communicating with said canister of concentrated decontamination fluid;    a quick connect disconnect member coupled with said dip tube;    said quick connector having an integral shut off and a coupling;    said connector further having a seal, sealing said canister from ambient contamination.    
   
   
       48 . The shower fixture for delivering decontamination fluid on demand as in  claim 42  wherein said canister further comprises: 
 a user-identifiable label for identifying the type of exposure to be washed from the skin of the user with contents of said canister.