CA2709200A1 - Hand sanitizing reminder barrier with hand sanitizing station location indicia - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand sanitizing station location notification system having an arm for swingably impeding a flow of pedestrian traffic, a pivot for swingably attaching the arm to a support, biasing means for returning the arm to a stationary position across a part of the flow of pedestrian traffic from one or more deflected positions occurring when the arm is pushed out of the way by a flow of pedestrian traffic, a visual reminder to hand sanitize attached to the arm, and a visual indicator of the location of a hand sanitizing station attached to the arm. The visual reminder and the visual indicator may either be text, graphical or both. The visual indicator may be an arrow pointing to the station or the direction to go to the station. The visual indicator may be a graphical representation of a path to reach the station or the location of the station.

Description

HAND SANITIZING REMINDER BARRIER WITH HAND SANITIZING STATION
LOCATION INDICIA

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hand sanitizing stations generally, and in particular devices to encourage and facilitate hand sanitizing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transmission of diseases, and in particular viruses and bacteria causing diseases, has been a problem for quite some time. The problem of people using a restroom without thoroughly washing their hands before leaving the restroom has been recognized as a serious problem from at least the 1940s and which continues to the present day as evidenced by U.S. Patent No.

2,409,535 issued to Robert F. Brecke on October 15, 1946 and U.S. Patent No. US6,925,763 B2 issued to Brian J. Stark and Peter J. Stark on August 9, 2005. As a result of this problem, various arrangements have been suggested to require a person to physically wash his/her hands before leaving a restroom as in U.S.
Patent No. 2,409,535.

More recently, a supply of towelettes, which could be impregnated with a germicide, have been made available before leaving a restroom, together with a means to dispose of the contaminated towelettes.
Previous Patents such as U.S. Patent No. 6,237,805 B 1 issued to Mike J.
Katsanevas, on May 29, 2001 provide for a towelette dispenser and a receiver for soiled towelettes either beside or on a restroom door. Similarly, U.S. Patent No. US6,508,383 B2 issued to Tom R.
Lidahl and Mr J.
Lidahl on January 21, 2003, provides a combined towelette dispenser and trash receptacle for attachment to a restroom door.

It has also been long recognized in the food service industry where hygiene is paramount, that not all food handlers wash their hands after going to the restroom and before handling food.
Accordingly, various arrangements have been designed to identify restroom users who have not washed their hands after using the restroom, such as in U.S. Patent No.
5,610,589 issued to Bennie R. Evans and Walter D. Ballew, on March 11, 1997.

Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 6.029,600 issued to Claude G. Davis on February 29, 2000, provides a dispenser for automatically spraying a coloured dye onto a hand of the restroom user which would identify the user as having used a restroom without then washing his/her hands unless the dye is washed off with soap and water after the dye has been sprayed onto his/her hand used to open the door knob of a restroom.

Alternatively, a dispenser for spraying a soap or disinfectant onto the doorhandle of a restroom when triggered by the motion of a hand has been developed as well as in U.S. Patent No. US6,874,697 B2 issued to Ronel Domingo Callueng, on April 5, 2005.

Unfortunately, none of the foregoing arrangements are particularly suited for hospitals, institutions, or the like, where visibility and ease of access is required, especially in emergency situations where, doors must be left open for nurses to look into patients' rooms, open areas, archways and hallways where a clear view is required.

In recent years, attempts to combat the transmission of viruses and bacteria within hospitals, institutions and like facilities, has revolved around the use of hand sanitizing stations mounted along the walls of corridors, including beside patient rooms, or placed inside the front doors of buildings.
However, a large number of visitors, patients and even health care providers still do not sanitize their hands often enough, or at all. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for such individuals to walk by such hand sanitizing stations without such conduct being perceived as clearly inappropriate to both the individual bypassing the hand sanitizing stations and others, if the individual or others notice the hand sanitizing stations at all.

Accordingly, a more visible, convenient and successful way to encourage people to hand sanitize while not unduly impeding visibility or travel in public places is desirable SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a hand sanitizing station location notification system comprising an arm for swingably impeding at least part of a flow of pedestrian traffic, a pivot for swingably attaching the arm to a support, biasing means for returning the arm to a stationary position across at least a part of the flow of pedestrian traffic from one or more deflected positions occurring when the arm is pushed out of the way by a flow of pedestrian traffic, a visual reminder to hand sanitize attached to the arm, and a visual indicator of the location of a hand sanitizing station attached to the arm.

In one aspect the visual indicator indicates a hand sanitizing station carried by the arm and in another aspect the visual indicator indicates a hand sanitizing station remote from the arm.

In one aspect the visual indicator comprises a dispenser carried by the arm for delivering a hand sanitizing medium to the flow of pedestrian traffic. In another aspect the visual indicator comprises a holder attached to the arm for delivering a hand sanitizing medium to the flow of pedestrian traffic.
In various aspects the visual reminder to hand sanitize comprises the dispenser carried by the arm, the holder attached to the arm for carrying the dispenser, or both.

In another aspect the invention may also comprise an audible reminder to hand sanitize when pedestrian traffic approaches the arm and/or move the arm.

In one aspect the invention provides a hand sanitizing station comprising an arm for delivering a hand sanitizing medium to a flow of pedestrian traffic, a pivot for swingably attaching the arm to a support, and biasing means for returning the arm to a stationary position across at least a part of the flow of pedestrian traffic from one or more deflected positions occurring when the arm is pushed out of the way by a flow of pedestrian traffic.

Preferably the hand sanitizing medium is a gel such as that sold under the brand name Purelle (TM) to be used with pump top dispensers, although other types of dispensers are readily available in the marketplace and well known by those skilled in the art. Other forms of hand sanitizing mediums such as cremes, lotions and liquids will also work with pump top and other dispensers. However the invention is not so limited and may be used with other sanitizers in the form of powders, solids, gases, aerosols, sprays, and other substances and devices adaptable for use as a hand sanitizer.

The arm may be made of any suitable material sufficiently rigid to support a desired dispenser for a hand sanitizing medium and to support the desired quantity of hand sanitizing medium and to support sufficient pressure to actuate the dispenser. The arm may be made of materials such as plastic, metal, wood , composite, fibreglass, but other readily substitutable materials will suffice and be well known to those skilled in the art. An arm made of approximately 1/4 inch plastic would be satisfactory for supporting a 500 ml pump top dispenser filled with sanitizing gel, but other materials and thicknesses will also suffice and would be readily known by those skilled in the art.
The arm is attached to a support by a pivot for swinging the arm substantially horizontally. The pivot usually comprises one or more hinges, although the pivot is not so limited. Usually two hinges would be used, an upper and a lower, although one hinge running the height of the arm would suffice. A Shorter single hinge may suffice depending upon the size of the arm and would be readily known by those skilled in the art. Although biasing means for returning the arm to a stationary operational position is preferably integral with the pivot, it need not be.
The integral pivot and biasing means is preferably a gravity hinge, but spring loaded or biased hinges such as double action spring hinges would also suffice.

The support for the arm to which the pivot is attached may be any substantially vertical surface or other surface that can be adapted to provide a substantially vertical surface.
In particular the vertical portions of doorways, hallways, posts, walls, counters, pillars, carts, desks, tables and bookcases, as well as other surfaces may be used as a support to attach the pivot used to attach the arm.

However, surfaces other than substantially vertical, or vertical surfaces not co-planer, can be used as a support where the surface or surfaces are adapted for attaching the pivot or pivots in a substantially vertically aligned axis and/or the pivot or pivots are adapted for attachment to non vertically co-planer surfaces. For example, a bracket or extension attached to each of two surfaces may comprise a support for attaching two separate hinges comprising a pivot, the two hinges to be in substantial vertical axial alignment with each other. Alternatively, a pivot may comprise one or more bracket or extension for attaching a pivot to two non co-planer surfaces.
The brackets, extensions, or other similar adapters may be adjustable and/or detachable from the pivot or pivots and/or support surfaces.

In use each arm is preferably positioned substantially perpendicular to a flow of pedestrian traffic although the arm is useful at other angles to the flow of pedestrian traffic.
In a typical application the arm will swing towards 90 degrees in either direction from a stationary position substantially perpendicular to a flow of pedestrian traffic so that pedestrians do not damage the gate as they pass through. The pivot may be constructed to simply hold the arm at a perpendicular angle to a support, which support will often be parallel to the flow of pedestrian traffic.
However, the pivot may be adjustable or adapted if the support and the flow of pedestrian traffic are not substantially parallel.
However, the arm need not swing in two directions if the flow of pedestrian traffic is restricted to one direction. If the arm is built sufficiently strong, the arm may also act as a one way turn stile.
Further, limited angles of travel of the arm such as 75 to 89 degrees from stationary will usually be enough for a pedestrian to pass by the arm, especially, but not exclusively, where a single arm is used.

Alternatively, an angle as little as 45 degrees may be used where two arms mounted on opposing supports, such as corridor walls, create a central path for pedestrians wherein both of the two arms swing out of the pedestrians' path of travel.

A hand sanitizing station may also optionally comprise a lock for storing the arm in a non operational position usually substantially parallel to the flow of pedestrian traffic, although the arm may be stored more or less than 90 degrees from its stationary standby position. Preferably the lock requires a separate component such as a locking pin, or a key for a keylock, or special knowledge such as a combination for a combination lock to prevent unauthorized personnel from disabling the arm. A locking pin for instance may be inserted into co-operating apertures in top and bottom cooperating portions of a gravity hinge. The lock may also be integral with or proximate to the pivot. A gravity hinge often has a stored position usually approximately 90 degrees from a biased position, however, it is preferable to use a gravity hinge not having this feature which would enable pedestrians or other unauthorized individuals from easily disabling the arm.

In one aspect the arm comprises a holder for a dispenser for a hand sanitizing gel, creme, lotion or liquid. The holder may be attached to the arm by any known means including rivets, bolts, screws, glue, hooks, hangers, hook and loop fasteners, double sided tape, double sided self adhesive pads, and other ways known to those in the art. Plastic holders may be attached to plastic arms by heat welding and other known means. Metal holders may be attached to metal arms by welding, magnets, and other known means. Alternatively the holder may be integral to the arm by moulding in plastic, fibreglass or the like, forming in metal, and other means known in the art.
One or more magnets may be non-magnetically attached to the arm and the holder or the dispenser may be magnetically attached to the arm. Alternatively, one or more magnets may be non-magnetically attached to the holder or the dispenser and magnetically attached to the arm. One or more magnet may also be used to magnetically attach the holder or the dispenser, and magnetically attach the arm, to each other.
In one aspect a dispenser for the hand sanitizing medium, preferably a gel, may be attached directly to the arm without the need for a holder. The dispenser may be permanently or removably attached to the arm by any known means including rivets, bolts, screws, glue, hooks, hangers, hook and loop fasteners, double sided tape, double sided self adhesive pads, and other ways known to those in the art. Permanently attached dispensers may be refilled while attached to the arm and removably attachable dispensers may be refilled remotely or a new dispenser may be adapted as above for attachment to the arm.

In one aspect the dispenser and the arm may have cooperating structures to mount the dispenser on the arm. Although not so limited this could comprise a slot in the arm and a corresponding tab moulded into or attached to the dispenser for mounting engagement.

In one aspect the holder is mounted at the end of the arm distal the support.
Alternatively, the holder may be mounted on one of the two faces of the arm usually proximate the end of the arm distal the support. However, it will be recognized that the holder for the dispenser or the dispenser itself need not be mounted at the end of the arm or a face of the arm and may be mounted anywhere on the arm permitting access to the dispenser from at least one side of the arm. Although the dispenser, whether in a holder or not, is most useful when mounted near the end of the arm distal the support, which delivers the hand sanitizing medium as close as practical to the center of a flow of pedestrian traffic which not only is closer to a user and a stronger request to hand sanitize, and which dispenser may travel with the user for a longer period of time as the user simultaneously actuates the dispenser and swings the arm in the direction of the user's travel, the hand sanitizing station is still useful when mounted in other locations on the arm as this would still bring the dispenser closer to the flow of pedestrian traffic user than if mounted on the support surface itself and still serves as a stronger request to hand sanitize. In some cases the placement of the dispenser along the length of the arm is best set back from the end of the arm distal the support such as where an arm spans most of an opening such as a doorway or hallway and mounting the dispenser at the said end of the arm would take the dispenser out of the center of the flow of pedestrian traffic, in which case the dispenser may be mounted at a point along the arm centered across the said opening.

In another aspect the dispenser may be integral with the arm, such as moulding a cavity into the arm at one or more desired locations along the length of the arm and along the height of the arm. A cap or lid with a pump top may be fitted to enclose the cavity and provide means to deliver the hand sanitizing medium to a user.

In another aspect the location of the dispenser along the length of the arm and along the height of the arm may be adjustable, such as by providing multiple slots in the arm at multiple spaced locations for engaging a tab on the dispenser or dispenser holder. Other ways of attaching a dispenser holder or a dispenser directly to the arm may also be provided at multiple locations, the most appropriate location to be selected depending upon the placement of the arm.

In one aspect a dispenser may be mounted such that a pump top or other delivery actuating means extends above the top edge of the arm so pedestrians approaching the arm in either of the two directions have access to the actuating means. Alternatively, the actuating means may be mounted below the top edge of the arm such that the actuating means is not accessible to pedestrians approaching from the other side of the arm without going out of their way to approach the other side of the arm. In this case the dispenser would usually not be visible to pedestrians approaching the arm from the side opposite that side on which the dispenser is mounted. Where such hand sanitizing is not required in both opposing directions of pedestrian travel a visual reminder to hand sanitize would usually not be visible on the side of the arm without access to the dispenser. This may be useful to save on the cost of hand sanitizing mediums where hand sanitizing is not required, such as when leaving a hospital.

In another aspect a dispenser may be mounted on each of the two sides of an arm. This may be useful where different mediums are preferred for pedestrians traveling in opposite directions.
Alternatively, multiple dispensers may be provided for heavy traffic areas.

In another aspect separate arms may be mounted on each of two opposing supports, with each arm primarily intended to swing in an opposite direction, each with a different direction of a flow of pedestrian traffic. In this case each arm may comprise a separate dispenser to accommodate a regular flow of pedestrian traffic in each of two directions. Alternatively, if significant traffic is not anticipated one dispenser mounted on one of the arms may suffice.

In another aspect an arm may be mounted in a doorway also comprising a door.
The arm may have as its support the door frame or the door itself. When the door is closed the arm may be stored and locked against the abutting surface of the door, or may be left biased across the doorway for use when the door is opened, or may be stored in a locked position outwardly perpendicular to the closed surface of the door. Alternatively, when the door is open the arm may be stored and locked against the abutting surface of the door, or may be left biased across the doorway for use when the door is open, or may be stored in a locked position outwardly from the door and perpendicular to the door frame. In this type of application the dispenser would usually be mounted on the face of the arm opposite the door.

In another aspect the arm is removably attached to the support.

In another aspect the hand sanitizing station may optionally be provided with means to release the arm from the support in the event that someone falls against the arm or other emergency. This may but need not be in the form of sheer pins or releasing clamps.

In another aspect the hand sanitizing station may optionally comprise a visual reminder to hand sanitize. The Visual reminder may be visible to pedestrians approaching one or both sides of the arm. The visual reminder may be on one or both faces of the arm or may be on a display surface attached to the arm. The visual reminder may also be on the holder or holders for the dispenser or dispensers or the visible part of the dispenser or dispensers.

In another aspect the invention comprises a method of arranging a plurality of the hand sanitizing stations comprising placing the plurality of hand sanitizing stations in a substantially linear manner across an open area receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic such that the plurality of arms of the hand sanitizing stations are substantially biased across the flow of pedestrian traffic such that a pedestrian would be unable to cross the plurality of hand sanitizing stations without swinging at least one of the arms of at least one of the hand sanitizing stations out of the way.

In another aspect the invention comprises a method of arranging a plurality of the hand sanitizing stations comprising placing the plurality of hand sanitizing stations across an open area receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic in a spaced relationship along a length of the flow of pedestrian traffic such that a pedestrian may not travel along the flow of pedestrian traffic without pushing at least one of the arms of one of the hand sanitizing stations out of the pedestrian's path of travel or altering the pedestrian's path of travel laterally to the flow of pedestrian traffic through one or more gaps between the spaced hand sanitizing stations to avoid the plurality of hand sanitizing stations. The gaps may but need not be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or Gurney without engaging one or more arms of one of the hand sanitizing stations.

However, in some situations it may not be necessary for the swinging arm to itself carry a dispenser of hand sanitizing compound, in which situations a visual indicator of the location of a hand sanitizing station can be used instead of providing a hand sanitizing dispenser directly upon the arm.
In many cases, an institution, and in particular hospitals or nursing homes, may already have purchased and installed a significant number of traditional hand sanitizing stations curently located in typical locations throughout the institution. In such situations, although such traditional hand sanitizing stations, in traditional locations, may easily be overlooked or ignored, it may not be feasible to remove or abandon the existing hand sanitizing stations due to the initial capital outlay of the existing dispensers and/or where the institution has committed to contracts for the ongoing servicing of the existing traditional hand sanitizing stations. In such situations, the swinging arm for intercepting a flow of pedestrian traffic bearing a reminder to hand sanitize can comprise, as an alternative to a physical dispenser attached to the arm, a visual indicator on the arm of the location of a hand sanitizing station external to the arm. Although many different types of visual indicators of the location of hand sanitizing stations are contemplated, it is expected that said arm, without carrying its own hand sanitizing dispenser and supply of hand sanitizing compound, will work better the closer the hand sanitizing station is to the arm and the visual indicator of the hand sanitizing station.. Even in such situations where a plurality of traditional hand sanitizing stations are already installed in an institution or a facility, swinging arms directly carrying dispensers with a supply of hand sanitizing compound may be supplemented at key locations identified by the institution or facility. Accordingly, a plurality of swinging arms, with visual indicators of the locations of external hand sanitizing stations, can comprise a satisfactory cost compromise to having a plurality of said swinging arms all bearing their own dispensers and supply of hand sanitizing compound.

In the above circumstances, a plurality of the said swinging arms bearing a visual indicator of the location of one or more hand sanitizing stations is a viable alternative to a plurality of swinging arms, all comprising their own dispensers and supply of hand sanitizing compound, due to the increased cost of such arms.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides for the use of the subject arm but without carrying the dispenser or other delivery system for the hand sanitizing compound on the arm itself. In this aspect the arm continues to bear a visual reminder or request to hand sanitize in addition to the visual indicator of the location of one or more, preferably nearby, hand sanitizing stations. For simplicity the visual indicator preferably relates to only one hand sanitizing station, although several arms could visually indicate the same hand sanitizing station. The visual reminder to hand sanitize may be in any form including in text form, in graphic form, or in a combination of text and graphic forms. The visual indicator (of the location of a hand sanitizing station) may also be in any form including in text form, in graphic form, or in a combination of text and graphic forms.

Where the visual indicator is in graphic form the visual indicator may be any graphic which indicates the location of one or more hand sanitizing station, typically the closest hand sanitizing station.

In one aspect the graphic representation of the visual indicator is an arrow.
In related aspects the arrow may point directly at the hand sanitizing station or the arrow may point in a direction of travel in which to reach a hand sanitizing station. In another aspect the visual indicator may be a graphic representation of a path to follow in order to reach a hand sanitizing station. In this regard a beginning point and/or an end point for the path may be specified or an arrow may be used in connection therewith in order to indicate in which direction along the path or path the pedestrian must follow in order to reach a hand sanitizing station.

In another aspect the visual indicator may be a graphic representation of the location of one or more hand sanitizing stations. Such a graphic representation may be a floor plan of portions of a building or area, which may be indoor or outdoor. Such representation may, but need not be used in conjunction with an arrow or arrows showing the location of a hand sanitizing station or a direction of travel to reach the hand sanitizing station. Alternatively, the representation of a pathway to show how to reach the indicated location of the hand sanitizing station may be used.

In another aspect the visual reminder to hand sanitize and the visual indicator of the location of the hand sanitizing station may be integral or otherwise indistinguishable from each other, either or both of visual reminder and the visual indicator are text, graphical or a combination of text and graphical.
Accordingly, the visual indicators on a plurality of arms may refer to a much smaller number of hand sanitizing stations than there are arms in use.

Where text is used, in whole or in part, for the visual reminder and/or the visual indicator messages in more than one language may be presented. Where the visual indicator is not presented in text form, but only in graphical form, this has the ability of the benefit of not being restricted to one or a small number of languages, although a graphic may be somewhat more imprecise than specific wording used to indicate the location of a hand sanitizing station.

The instant invention therefore has the advantage of physically reinforcing to the pedestrian the need to hand sanitize (i.e. the need to physically push the barrier arm out of the way) despite a clear reminder to hand sanitize on the arm which also retains much of the social or peer pressure to comply with facility rules for hand sanitizing, although somewhat less convenient in that the hand sanitizing compound dispenser is not delivered to the pedestrian when engaging the arm nor does the dispenser follow the pedestrian as the pedestrian pushes past the arm. It is believed that the closer the hand sanitizing station is to the arm and the visual indicator (of the location of the hand sanitizing station) the higher the percentage the hand sanitizing compliance will be as it will be more obvious to passers by whether or not a pedestrian has complied with hand sanitizing as reminders or requests and the social pressure upon the pedestrian to so comply will be that much greater where the hand sanitizing station is located closer to the arm rather than not.

The improvement to the invention described and claimed herein therefore includes a hand sanitizing station location notification system comprising an arm for swingably impeding at least part of a flow of pedestrian traffic, a pivot for swingably attaching the arm to a support, biasing means for returning the arm to a stationary position across at least a part of the flow of pedestrian traffic from one or more deflected positions occurring when the arm is pushed out of the way by a flow of pedestrian traffic, a visual reminder to hand sanitize attached to the arm, and a visual indicator of the location of a hand sanitizing station attached to the arm.

In various aspects the visual indicator is in text, or graphical, or in text and graphical.
In one aspect the graphical visual indicator comprises an arrow.

In related aspects the arrow points to the hand sanitizing station location, or the arrow points in the direction required to travel to reach the hand sanitizing station location, or the arrow indicates a direction along a path to follow to reach the hand sanitizing station.

In one aspect the graphical visual indicator comprises a graphic representation of a path to follow to reach the hand sanitizing station.

In one aspect the graphical visual indicator comprises a graphic representation of the location of the hand sanitizing station.

In another aspect the visual reminder is also in text.
In another aspect visual reminder is also graphical.

In another aspect the visual reminder is in text and graphical.

In another aspect the visual indicator and the visual reminder are unitary.

In one aspect the pivot is a hinge.

In one aspect the pivot and the biasing means comprise an integral biasing pivot.
In one aspect the integral biasing pivot comprises a gravity hinge.

In one aspect the integral biasing pivot comprises a double action spring hinge.
In one aspect the integral biasing pivot comprises a spring biased hinge.

In one aspect the arm swings away from the stationary position in one direction.
In one aspect the arm swings away from the stationary position in two directions.

In one aspect the arm swings away from the stationary position substantially at least 75 degrees in each direction.

In one aspect the arm swings away from the stationary position substantially at least 90 degrees in each direction.

In one aspect the invention further comprises a lock to hold the arm in a stored position substantially not across the flow of pedestrian traffic.

In one aspect the arm is removably attachable to the support for storage, emergencies, or other purposes.

In a related aspect the lock is integral with the pivot.

In another related aspect the lock comprises a locking pin for inserting into corresponding apertures of each of two co-operating parts of the pivot.

In one aspect the support is generally vertical and selected from one of the group consisting of a door frame, a door, a wall of a hallway, a wall of an open area, a side of a counter, a side of a wheeled cart, a side of a post and a pillar.

In one aspect the system further comprising a portable support.

In one aspect the arm may be locked into a stored position by a magnetic contact.

In one aspect the support comprises two surfaces which are not co-planer, which surfaces have been adapted to provide for two substantially co-planer surfaces for mounting the pivot.

In one aspect the system provides a method of arranging a plurality of the arms comprising placing the plurality of Arms in a substantially linear manner across an area receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic such that the plurality of arms are substantially biased across the flow of pedestrian traffic such that a pedestrian would be unable to cross the plurality of hand sanitizing stations without swinging at least one of the arms out of the flow of pedestrian traffic.

In one aspect the system provides a method of arranging a plurality of arms comprising placing the plurality of arms across an area receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic in a spaced relationship along a length of the flow of pedestrian traffic such that a pedestrian may not travel along the flow of pedestrian traffic without pushing at least one of the arms out of the flow of pedestrian traffic or altering the pedestrian's path of travel laterally to the flow of pedestrian traffic through one or more gaps between the spaced arms to avoid the plurality of arms.

In a related aspect the system provides a method wherein the gaps are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or gurney without engaging one of the arms.

As indicated above there is a great need to encourage or persuade a much greater number of patrons of any given facility to hand sanitize given the prevalence of viruses and bacteria and the ease of transmission. As stated above it is all too easy for patron of a facility to by-pass a relatively modest or obscure hand sanitizing station, especially where a patron of a facility can adjust his or her path of travel to steer clear of a hand sanitizing station and thus make it less obvious to other passers by that the patron is not respecting the rules of the facility with respect to hand sanitizing. Accordingly, impeding the travel of a pedestrian requiring him or her to push through a barrier arm with a clear request or reminder to hand sanitize and bearing a dispenser containing a hand sanitizing compound or a clear visual indicator of the location of a had sanitizing station not only makes it easy to comply but also exerts significant social pressure to comply when in the presence of other pedestrians which may be the most a facility can hope for short of physically enforcing hand sanitizing by mechanical or human means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures wherein:
Fig. 1 is a front view of a hand sanitizing station with a swinging arm attached to a portable post, the arm having an attached holder for a pump-top dispenser for a sanitizing medium.

Fig 1 a is a front view of an alternate embodiment of an arm attached to a cylindrical arm attachment post with pressure release means.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the arm of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is front view of an alternate hand sanitizing station with a double support swinging arm attached to a doorway and having a holder for a pump-top dispenser for a sanitizing medium.
Fig. 3a is top view of an arm attached to a doorway by a double action string hinge.

Fig. 4 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a hand sanitizing station with a swinging arm shown extended across a portion of an open area for receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic with alternate routes of pedestrian traffic shown blocked by a barrier.

Fig. 5 is a front view of opposing hand sanitizing stations shown mounted on opposing hallway walls with one dispenser mounted on each arm and each dispenser facing opposing flows of pedestrian traffic.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing a plurality of hand sanitizing stations spanning an open space in a linear manner, comprising one arm attached to a counter and two opposing arms attached to a post and another arm attached to a wall.

Fig. 7 is a front view showing an arm attached to a wall, with a pump-top dispenser for a sanitizing medium mounted below the top surface of the arm for use by pedestrians passing in only one direction past the arm.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the arm of Fig. 7 showing a holder with a dispenser on both sides of the arm.
Fig. 9 is a top view of an arm mounted in a doorway without a door.

Fig. 10 is a top view of an arm mounted in a doorway shown co-operating with a door.

Fig. 11 is a top view of an arm mounted on a door for use when the door is open and for storage of the arm against the door when the door is closed.

Fig. 12 shows an example of an arrangement of arms attached to various supports intended to require a traveler to change his/her direction of travel in order to avoid having to push against one of the arms.

Figure 13 is a front view of an arm with an arrow pointing to the hand sanitizing station;

Figure 14 is a front view of an arm with a graphic representation of the path to follow to reach the hand sanitizing station;

Figure 15 is a front view of an arm with a graphical representation of the location of the hand sanitizing station;

Figure 16 is a front view of an arm with a text indicator describing the location of the hand sanitizing station;

Figure 17 is a front view of an arm with a text reminder to hand sanitize and a graphical indicator of the location of the hand sanitizing station;

Figure 18 is a front view of an arm with a text reminder to hand sanitize and a text indicator describing the location of the hand sanitizing station; and Figure 19 is a front view of an arm wherein the visual reminder to hand sanitize and the visual indicator of the location of the hand sanitizing station are integral EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The several exemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 is an embodiment of a simple hand sanitizing station 19 comprising arm 20 having a pivot end 21 and a dispenser end 22. Pivot end 21 of arm 20 is attached to a pivot comprising brackets 32a, 32b, pivot pin 34 and gravity hinge 27. Bracket 32a co-operates with gravity hinge 27 and bracket 32b cooperates with pivot pin 34. The bottom part of gravity hinge 27 is fixedly attached to bracket 32a and the upper part of gravity hinge 27 is fixedly attached to arm 20.
Upper and lower parts of gravity hinge 27 pivot about a center post (not shown) of the gravity hinge 27. The lower surface of the upper part of gravity hinge 27 and the upper surface of the lower part of gravity hinge 27 are angled whereby arm 20 is biased away from the support and across a flow of pedestrian traffic. The angle should also permit the arm 20 to be biased from 90 degrees in either direction from the biased stationary standby position. Preferably the gravity hinge does not have one or two rest positions which would prevent the arm 20 from returning to a stationary standby position. The arm 20 will rise slightly when the arm 20 is swung from a stationary biased position across the flow of pedestrian traffic and will fall slightly when the arm 20 returns to a stationary standby position. Pivot pin 34 is vertically attached to arm 20 and extends upwards through a bracket aperture (not shown). The pivot pin 34 will rise slightly through bracket aperture in upper bracket 32b when arm 20 is swung from the stationary standby position and will fall slightly through bracket aperture in upper bracket 32b when arm 20 returns to the stationary standby position. Brackets 32a, 32b are attached to vertical post 28, post 28 being supported by base 30. Although the arm 20 is shown pivotally attached to vertical post 28, it will be understood that arm 20 may be supported by substantially any vertical surface of a building, including counters, as shown in Fig. 6, walls as shown in Fig. 1 a, doorways as shown in Fig. 3, as well as tables, carts, wheeled or not, bookcases or other structures, especially those present at entrance ways to buildings and open areas.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the support for attaching the pivot, need not be vertical and may be of any shape and size that permits the pivot attached to arm 20 to be attached to the support whereby the pivot is oriented about a substantially vertical axis. This may be accomplished by adapting the support surface whereby brackets 32a, 32b are each attached to different surfaces but which are co-planer. This may be by the use of extension brackets or the support surfaces may be adapted in other ways. Alternatively, the pivot, in this case comprising brackets 32a, 32b, may comprise extensions, fixed or adjustable, to engage one or more differing support surface whereby the pivot may be oriented along a substantially vertical axis.

Dispenser end 22 of arm 20 comprises a dispenser holder 23 for holding a dispenser 24 having spigot 25. Arm 20 will usually be a vertically oriented panel with two opposing vertical faces 29.
Opposing faces 29 typically are applied with a visual reminder 26 in order to indicate to the pedestrian traffic the purpose of the station 19 and the requirement or request to hand sanitize before passing by the hand sanitizing station 19.

Arm 20 can be made of plastic, acrylic, or other suitable material, such as a composite, including a fibreglass or kevlar cloth hardened by resin or otherwise, provided the item is sufficiently strong to allow a pedestrian to press down on spigot 25 of dispenser 24, dispenser 24 being held adjacent to arm 20 by dispenser holder 23. Dispenser holder 23 will often be placed proximate to dispenser end 22 of arm 20 in order to hold dispenser 24 closer to a pedestrian's path of travel 92, as shown in fig 12, as opposed to on a wall of a corridor for instance where a pedestrian would have to change his or her direction of travel in order to approach the wall comprising a dispenser, for instance, before being close enough to dispense a sanitizing liquid or gel onto a hand of the pedestrian.
Furthermore, where the pedestrian must swing the arm out of the way of his or her path of travel 92 before being able to bypass the sanitizing station 19, he or she would be able to activate the sanitizing liquid or gel dispenser 24 lodged in dispenser holder 23 at dispenser end 22 of arm 20 to hand sanitize "on the fly" without necessarily having to stop walking while activating the spigot 25 of dispenser 24 to hand sanitize. For this purpose, dispenser 24 is preferably positioned such that spigot 25 is above upper edge 98 of arm 20 so as not to interfere with the pressing of spigot 25 where a pedestrian's hand may need to pass over the upper edge 98 of arm 20 in front of the pedestrian in order to reach a dispenser 24 mounted on the side of the arm 20 opposite the pedestrian.
No one shape or construction of arm 20 is required, provided that the arm is capable of swinging substantially horizontally, usually in both directions and usually substantially ninety degrees in each direction for a total swing of one hundred and eighty degrees. The arm 20 must have sufficient support at pivot end 21 of arm 20 in order to provide an adequate substrate for attaching a gravity hinge 27or other pivot for permitting the arm to swing substantially horizontally and to bias the arm to a position crossing the pedestrian path of travel 92, preferably at a substantially perpendicular angle across the flow of pedestrians traffic 91. Dispenser 24 will often be placed longitudinally outwardly from distal end 99 of arm 20 as this may give the clearest access to spigot 25. Placing dispenser 24 past distal end 99 of arm 20 also provides the greatest reach for arm 20, thus minimizing the required length of arm 20 to either substantially block pedestrian access to a particular area or to place the dispenser in the center of a hallway or other pedestrian access such that pedestrians traveling in either direction and on either side of the corridor or the like will have centralized access to dispenser 24. It is to be recognized that if dispenser 24 is presented in this manner at substantially a half way point across a corridor or the like, that only pedestrians traveling across one half of the corridor will be physically required to push arm 20 out of the way in order to continue in the pedestrian's path of travel 92.

Visual reminder 26 should usually be clearly visible to pedestrians traveling in either direction, although visual reminder 26 may be placed on opposing faces 29 more closely to dispenser end 22 of arm 20 for this purpose. It is to be recognized, however, that dispenser holder 23 may generally be mounted anywhere along either of the opposing faces 29 depending upon the purposes intended and as set out further hereunder. However, where access to dispenser 24 and spigot 25 is intended for use by pedestrians traveling past the arm 20 from either direction, dispenser holder 23 will be mounted on arm 20, such that at least spigot 25, and preferably at least a portion of dispenser 24 for greater clearance, is above upper edge 98 of arm 20 as seen in Fig. 4, for example.

Fig. la shows another embodiment of the invention. Fig. la shows arm attachment post 36 the lower end of which comprises upper part of alternate gravity hinge 38a comprising an inverted valley. Lower part of alternate gravity hinge 40a comprises a peak which cooperates with upper part of gravity hinge 38a which together will bias arm 20 across a flow of pedestrian traffic 91 (not shown) when arm 20 is attached to arm attachment post 36. Lower part of gravity hinge 40a is attached to lower bracket 32a which in turn is secured to wall 60. Frangible pivot pin 34a is attached to the top of arm attachment post 36, which pin 34a in turn engages aperture in upper bracket 32b, which in turn is attached to wall 60. Frangible pivot pin 34a is made of plastic or other frangible material such that in the event of emergency, such as someone falling onto the arm 20, frangible pin 34a will break allowing the arm to detach from brackets 32a, 32b and fall to the ground to prevent or reduce injury. Alternatively, clamps 48 attached to arm 20 may clamp onto arm attachment post 36 such that in the event of a similar emergency the clamps will be released from arm attachment post 36 by pressure exerted on the arm 20 and the arm will similarly collapse or fall to the ground.
Alternatively still, the clamps 48 may be fixedly attached to post 36 and clamp onto arm 20 which will allow arm 20 to pivot downwardly or be released in the event of emergency. Of course frangible pivot pin 34a or equivalent may be used with releasable clamps 48 for added security. Other ways of releasably attaching pivot end 21 of arm 20 to means for horizontally pivoting arm 20 will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

Dispenser holder 42 may be fixedly or releasably attached to dispenser end 22 of arm 20 or in fact any surface of arm 20. Dispenser holder 42 may also comprise window 46 in order to visually determine at a glance how much sanitizing gel or other medium is left in transparent or semi-transparent dispenser 24 within dispenser holder 42. It is to be understood that dispenser holder 42 may be of any design sufficient to support a dispenser and any pressure required to actuate the dispenser. This could include a ring to engage a neck of a dispenser, a box, a bag, or other sufficient support for a dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the sanitizing station 19 of Fig. 1 showing dispenser holder 23 mounted on the dispenser end 22 of arm 20. Dispenser 24 is shown in dispenser holder 23 past the distal end 99 of arm 20. Pivot end 21 of arm 20 is shown attached to post 28 by pivot comprising upper bracket 32b, pivot pin 34, lower bracket 32a (not shown) and gravity hinge 27 (not shown). Post 28 is again supported by base 30.

Fig. 3 is another embodiment of the invention herein. Double arm 50 is comprised by upper arm 50a and lower arm 50b which are optionally connected by a vertical arm extension 51. The arm extension 51 may support dispenser holder 23 and dispenser 24 or dispenser 24 alone, and may support a visual reminder 26 to hand sanitize. Dispenser holder 23 or dispenser 24 alone may be mounted at any convenient height along vertical arm extension 51 or along upper arm 50a or lower arm 50b Of course dispenser holder 23 or dispenser 24 alone may be mounted on upper or lower arms 50a, 50b. Pivot end 21 of double arm 50 is attached to door frame 54 by double action spring hinges 58, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the hinges 58 or other means allowing arms 20, 50 to horizontally swing may be separate from biasing means for returning arms 20, 50 to a stationary standby position across a path of pedestrian traffic.

Fig 3a shows the double arm 50 of Fig. 3 attached to door frame 54 by double action spring hinge 58.

Fig. 4 shows an open area or room through which pedestrian traffic ordinarily travels but which is too wide an expanse to economically or aesthetically place enough sanitizing stations 19 to cover the expanse. In such circumstances, one or more barriers 94 may be used to block pedestrian traffic thus requiring pedestrians to push arm 20 out of the way in order to continue in his or her path of travel 92 (not shown). Arm 20 is shown supported by generic biasing hinges 59 which may be in the form of gravity hinges, double action spring hinges, or hinges with spring or other biasing mechanisms. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that although two or more hinges may be required, only one biasing hinge 59, usually a lower biasing hinge 59, will be required. Of course two or more may be used. In this embodiment dispenser holder 23 is mounted flush against dispenser holder surface 62 on face 29 of arm 20 at dispenser end 22 of arm 20. The top part of dispenser 24 is also shown as partly above the upper edge 98 of arm 20 providing access to spigot 25 for pedestrians passing by arm 20 in either direction. A visual reminder 26 would usually be applied to each of two opposing faces 29 of arm 20 where the dispenser 24 is accessible to pedestrians approaching either side of the arm 20. Generic biasing hinges 59 are shown attached to post 28 which again in turn is supported by base 30.

Fig. 5 shows a hallway with opposing walls 60 with two opposing arms 20 mounted on opposing walls 60. Arms 20 are supported at pivot ends 21 of arms 20 by brackets 32a, 32b, pivot pins 34 and gravity hinges 27. Both arms 20 swing horizontally in either direction, substantially 180 degrees in total each. Both arms 20 are biased to a stationary standby position substantially perpendicular to walls 60 and substantially perpendicular to a flow of pedestrian traffic 91 (not shown). Arms 20 comprise flush dispenser holder surfaces 62 at dispenser ends 22 on either side of arms 20 for mounting dispenser holders 23 substantially flush against one of faces 29. In this case two dispensers 24 each with a spigot 25 is shown. Only one dispenser holder 23 is mounted on each of arms 20 such that one dispenser holder 23 is held against one face 29 of one arm 20 and another dispenser holder 23 is mounted on the opposing face 29 of opposing arm 20 such that a pedestrian traveling through and past either of arms 20 will have a dispenser 24 mounted in front of the pedestrian, regardless of the direction of the pedestrian's path of travel 92. It is to be recognized that dispensers 24 are mounted very close together at dispenser ends 22 of arms 20 and that one dispenser 24 mounted on one of the arms 20 may suffice. However, in high traffic areas with frequent pedestrian traffic in both directions at the same time, where opposing arms 20 may often swing in opposite directions at substantially the same time, it may be useful to have two such dispensers 24 so that pedestrians may still hand sanitize on the fly, regardless of direction of travel and regardless of the number of pedestrians traveling in the opposite direction.

Fig. 6 shows a relatively wide pedestrian access way bounded by counter 96 and wall 60 and arms 68 including dispenser holders 23 mounted against counter 96 and wall 60 respectively. Two opposing arms 70 without dispenser holders 23 are shown supported by post 28 which is in turn supported by base 30. Arms 68, 70 are biased to a stationary standby position by biasing hinges 59 or similar means. As referred to as an alternative in the context of Fig. 5 discussed above, only one dispenser 24 is provided for each pair of arms for the reasons previously provided. Visual reminders 26 are also provided on each of arms 68, 70, although one visual reminder 26 per pair of arms, per side, may suffice.

Fig. 7 shows arm 72 with restricted access to dispenser 24 mounted within dispenser holder 23 which is mounted against one of opposing faces 29. Dispenser 24 is mounted well below the upper edge 98 of arm 72 such that only pedestrians traveling in one direction have access to dispenser 24 and spigot 25. This may be useful where only sanitizing in one direction is required which may save on the cost of hand sanitizing gels or other mediums. For example, it may not be necessary to hand sanitize when leaving a restricted area such as a hospital, but hand sanitizing would be required when entering the hospital. Again, arm 72 is attached to wall 60 by biasing hinges 59 at pivot end 21 of arm 72. Arm 72 also comprises visual reminder 26, but only on the same face on which dispenser 23 is mounted.

Fig. 8 is a top view of a variation of the embodiment in Fig 7. Fig. 8 shows arm 72 with restricted dispenser access with opposing faces 29 each having an attached dispenser holder 23 and dispenser 24 at dispenser end 22 of arm 72. In this embodiment each of the two dispensers 24 may be filled with different mediums with different properties depending upon the area the pedestrian is entering or exiting. Depending upon the nature of the mediums in dispensers 24 on opposing faces 29 of arm 72 visual reminders 26 on opposing faces 29 may be the same or different.
Again, arm 72 is shown hingedly biased to wall 60 by biasing hinge 59 at pivot end 21 of arm 72.

Fig. 9 shows a simple embodiment of arm 20 mounted in a doorway 56 on a door frame 54. It is not necessary that arm 20 completely span an opening where a pedestrian would have to swing arm 20 at least some degree in order to gain access to the area beyond the arm, which is thought to create the greatest motivation to comply with hand sanitizing policies. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the mere extension of the arm into an obvious and visible part of a pedestrian's path of travel 92 will often be a sufficient motivator to encourage the pedestrian to hand sanitize even if room exists for the pedestrian to bypass the station 19 without moving arm 20 (or 50, 68,70,72). Of course it is recognized, and expected, that not all pedestrians will hand sanitize and there will always be a portion of pedestrians who will not hand sanitize regardless of whether or not he or she will need to swing arm 20 in order to gain access to the area beyond arm 20.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment wherein hand sanitizing station 19 is used in a doorway 56 also comprising a door 74, which door swings in only one direction to position 74'.
A typical application of this would be the entrance to a patient's room in a hospital. Arm 20 is mounted across doorway 56 and parallel with door 74 in closed position on the opposite side of door 74 as the direction of travel of door 74. Arm 20 is mounted on biasing hinges 59 on extension brackets 82 such that arm 20 may swing 90 degrees from a biased stationary standby position directly across doorway 56 to a fully open position in one direction of approximately 90 degrees from the stationary standby position and parallel and adjacent to door 74 when door 74' is opened approximately 90 degrees from a fully closed position. Alternatively, arm 20 may swing 90 degrees in the opposite direction substantially 90 degrees. Accordingly, arm 20 may swing through a total distance of 180 degrees and allow for the passage of pedestrians in either direction through the doorway 56 when door 74 is open. When door 74 is closed, arm 20 may be kept in a stationary standby position across doorway 56 and parallel to closed door 74. Alternatively when door 74 is closed, arm 20 may be swung substantially 90 degrees to a fully open position opposite the direction of travel of door 74.
Depending upon whether completely unobstructed access is desired biasing hinge 59 may be coupled with means for storing arm 20 at 90 degrees from a stationary standby position, in either direction 86, 88. One skilled in the art will also recognize that one or more storage positions may also be provided with respect to other embodiments of the invention including those described in this specification.

Fig. 11 shows arm 20 attached to a door 74 with arm 20 biased to a stationary standby position across a doorway 56. A stored position for the arm 20 parallel and adjacent to the door 74 is shown in broken lines. Dispenser holder 23 or dispenser 24 alone is usually mounted on the face of the arm 20 opposite door 74.

Fig. 12 is a relatively wide foyer of an institutional building such as a hospital. In such cases it is not always possible either economically or aesthetically to line up a series of arms and/or barriers to force people to proceed through various turnstile like devices.
Furthermore, in an institutional setting such as hospitals, various visitors may be patients in wheelchairs or crutches who may find it difficult to push an arm 20, however slight the required pressure on the arm may need to be to return the arm to stationary standby position. In such cases it may be possible to stagger sets of arms so that people with handicaps may negotiate around the various arms without having to actually push on the arms regardless of whether or not they hand sanitize. Accordingly, when one enters through main doors 74, the visual impression may be a series of arms 20 but with arms 20 staggered at various depths along the flow of pedestrian traffic 91 so that said arms 20 do not form a physical barrier but merely a visual presence. Fig.12 shows an arms 20 attached to a wall 60, a counter 96 , a cart 95, a pillar 97, and posts 28.

Figures 13 through19 show a basic form of arm 100 (without means for delivering a hand sanitizing medium to the flow of pedestrian traffic), together with two pivots (generic) 102 connecting arm 100 to support (generic) 104. The arm 100 may be constructed the same as arm 20, and arm 100 may be attached to the same supports as arm 20, and be connected thereto by the same pivots as arm 20, and arm or arms 100 may be laid out in the same way as arm or arms 20, all as shown in figures 1 to 12 and the description of the exemplary embodiments related to said figures 1 to 12, save and except that arm 100 does not comprise a holder or other means for the arm 100 to carry a supply of hand sanitizing medium.

Figure 13 shows a graphic visual reminder (to hand sanitize) 106 and an arrow shaped graphic visual indicator (of the location of a hand sanitizing station) 108.

Figure 14 shows the same graphic visual reminder 106 as Figure 13 together with a pathway shaped graphic visual indicator 110 (of the location of a hand sanitizing station).

Figure 15 shows the same graphic visual reminder 106 as in Figures 13 and 14, together with a location shaped graphic visual indicator 112, such as the layout of a room, area, or building (of the location of a hand sanitizing station.

Figure 16 has the same graphic visual reminder 106 as in Figures 13 to 15 together with a text visual indicator 114 of the location of the hand sanitizing station.

Figure 17 shows a text visual reminder 9 (to hand sanitize) 116 and an arrow shaped visual indicator (of the location of a hand sanitizing station) 108.

Figure 18 discloses a text visual reminder 116 and a text visual indicator 114.
Finally, figure 19 discloses unitary text visual reminder and text visual indicator 118.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other embodiments of the invention are contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention.

PARTS LIST

19. sanitizing station with swinging arm 20. arm (with means for delivering a hand sanitizing medium) 21. Pivot end (of arm) 22. dispenser end (of arm) 23. dispenser holder (basic) 24. dispenser (for sanitizing gel) 25. spigot (of dispenser) 26. visual reminder 27. gravity hinge 28. post 29. faces (of arm) 30. base (of post) 32a. lower bracket (for gravity hinge) 32b. upper bracket (for pivot pin) 34. pivot pin (of hinge) 36. arm attachment post 38. gravity hinge (upper moving part) 38a. alternate gravity hinge (upper moving part with inverted valley) 40. gravity hinge (lower stationary part) 40a. alternate gravity hinge (lower stationary part with peak) 42. dispenser holder (with viewing window) 46. window in dispenser holder 48. clamps 50. double arm 50a. upper arm (of double arm) 50b lower arm (of double arm) 51. arm extension 52. additional visual reminder substrate 54. door frame 56. door way 58. double action spring hinge 59. biasing hinges (generic) 60. wall 62. flush dispenser holder surface (of arm) 64. open area 66. hallway / corridor 68. arm with dispenser holder 70. arm without dispenser holder 72. arm with restricted dispenser access 74. door 76. door stop 78. door hinge 80. door handle 82. extended hinge bracket 84. stationary stand-by position of arm 86. inner arm storage position (abutting door) 88. outer door storage position (not abutting door) 90. building or area entrance 91. flow of pedestrian traffic 92. path of travel (by pedestrian) 94. barrier 95. cart 96. counter 97. pillar 98. upper edge of arm 99. distal end of arm 100. arm (without means for delivering a hand sanitizing medium) 102. pivot (generic) 104. support (generic) 106. graphic visual reminder (to hand sanitize) 108. arrow shaped graphic visual indicator (of hand sanitizing station) 110. pathway shaped graphic visual indicator 112. location shaped graphic visual indicator 114. text visual indicator 116. text visual reminder 118. unitary text visual reminder and text visual indicator

Claims (35)

1. A hand sanitizing station location notification system comprising:

-an arm for swingably impeding at least part of a flow of pedestrian traffic, -a pivot for swingably attaching the arm to a support, - biasing means for returning the arm to a stationary position across at least a part of the flow of pedestrian traffic from one or more deflected positions occurring when the arm is pushed out of the way by a flow of pedestrian traffic, -a visual reminder to hand sanitize attached to the arm, and -a visual indicator of the location of a hand sanitizing station attached to the arm.

2. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator is in text.

3. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator is graphical.

4. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator is in text and graphical.

5. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of either of claims 3 and 4 wherein the graphical visual indicator comprises an arrow.

6. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 5 wherein the arrow points to the hand sanitizing station location.

7. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 5 wherein the arrow points in the direction required to travel to reach the hand sanitizing station location.

8. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of either of claims 3 and 4 wherein the graphical visual indicator comprises a graphic representation of a path to follow to reach the hand sanitizing station.

9. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of either of claims 3 and 4 wherein the graphical visual indicator comprises a graphic representation of the location of the hand sanitizing station.

10. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 2 wherein the visual reminder is also in text.

11. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 3 wherein the visual reminder is also graphical.

12. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 4 where the visual reminder is in text and graphical.

13. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the visual indicator and the visual reminder are unitary.

14. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the pivot is a hinge.

15. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the pivot and the biasing means comprise an integral biasing pivot.

16. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 15 wherein the integral biasing pivot comprises a gravity hinge.

17. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 15 wherein the integral biasing pivot comprises a double action spring hinge.

18. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 16 wherein the integral biasing pivot comprises a spring biased hinge.

19. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the arm swings away from the stationary position in one direction.

20. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the arm swings away from the stationary position in two directions.

21. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 19 and 20 wherein the arm swings away from the stationary position substantially at least 75 degrees in each direction.

22. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 19 to 20 wherein the arm swings away from the stationary position substantially at least 90 degrees in each direction.

23. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1 to 22 further comprising a lock to hold the arm in a stored position substantially not across the flow of pedestrian traffic.

24. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 23 wherein the lock is integral with the pivot.

25. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 24 wherein the lock comprises a locking pin for inserting into corresponding apertures of each of two co-operating parts of the pivot.

26. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claims 1 to 25 wherein the support is generally vertical and selected from one of the group consisting of a door frame, a door, a wall of a hallway, a wall of an open area, a side of a counter, a side of a wheeled cart, a side of a post and a pillar.

27. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1- 26 further comprising a portable support.

28. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1- 27 wherein the arm may be locked into a stored position by a magnetic contact.

29. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1- 28 wherein the support comprises two surfaces which are not co-planer, which surfaces have been adapted to provide for two substantially co-planer surfaces for mounting the pivot.

30. A method of arranging a plurality of the arms of any one of claims 26 - 27 comprising placing the plurality of Arms in a substantially linear manner across an area receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic such that the plurality of arms are substantially biased across the flow of pedestrian traffic such that a pedestrian would be unable to cross the plurality of hand sanitizing stations without swinging at least one of the arms out of the flow of pedestrian traffic.

31. A method of arranging a plurality of arms of any one of claims 26 - 27 comprising placing the plurality of arms across an area receiving a flow of pedestrian traffic in a spaced relationship along a length of the flow of pedestrian traffic such that a pedestrian may not travel along the flow of pedestrian traffic without pushing at least one of the arms out of the flow of pedestrian traffic or altering the pedestrian's path of travel laterally to the flow of pedestrian traffic through one or more gaps between the spaced arms to avoid the plurality of arms.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the gaps are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or gurney without engaging one of the arms.

33. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of any one of claims 1 to 29 wherein the arm is removably attachable to the support.

34. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises a hand sanitizing station attached to the arm.

35. The hand sanitizing station location notification system of claim 34 wherein the hand sanitizing station comprises a dispenser carried by the arm for delivering a hand sanitizing medium to a flow of pedestrian traffic.