GB2139850A

GB2139850A - Sanitary device

Info

Publication number: GB2139850A
Application number: GB08406608A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Francisca Alonso Ortega
Original assignee: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
Current assignee: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
Priority date: 1983-03-15
Filing date: 1984-03-14
Publication date: 1984-11-14
Also published as: SE8401370D0; NL8400832A; FR2542960A1; IT1185769B; DE8407538U1; GB8406608D0; ES270881U; SE8401370L; ES270881Y; IT8419973A0

Abstract

A protective device for telephone mouthpieces in which an open bag of flexible material has an elasticated neck 1 and, at its closed end, houses a disc 2 of rigid material having apertures 3 therein, together with a layer 4 of sponge material. In use, the bag is slipped over the mouthpiece of the telephone where it protects the user from germs present on the mouthpiece from a previous user. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Protective device for telephones This invention relates to a protective device for telephones and the like.

It is an indisputable fact that the majority of illnesses are contracted by more or less direct contact and more or less immediately, although it is not known, for example, in the majority of cases, how a "city" man can contract illnesses peculiar to the countryside or vice versa.

It also often happens that contagion occurs and the bacillus continues to be present while the immunisation threshold diminishes, and it then suddenly appears.

Specific cases are those that occur when a healthy person comes into direct contact through some part of his body with objects that have been previously touched or infected by sick persons who, without being aware of it, are carriers of germs, bacilli or viruses.

Personal isolation is of course practically impossible in normal life, but it is not impossible to isolate those objects which, because of their specific nature and the uses to which they are put, are, to a very large extent, at least possible repositories of microbes which may or may not be innocuous.

A particular case of such objects are telephones in general and especially public telephones which are used every day by a large number of people who necessarily hold the instruments close to, or due to carelessness, directly against their mouths and noses so that, unfortunately, other users are undoubtedly exposed to contagion every day.

To prevent such contagion a personal protective device has been designed for fitting on such apparatus, which device can be rapidly attached and, after use, removed without in any way affecting the apparatus or its subsequent use.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a protective device for telephones said device comprising a pouch-like casing of flexible material open at one end, the open edge of which is provided with an elastic reinforcement means, whereas at the opposite, closed, end is housed a rigid disc-like element having orifices in its surface, and a further element of sponge material below the disc-like element.

If the protective device is to be used on a continuous basis, it is preferably made of a strong fabric capable of being washed, whereas if intended for use by one person only, it can be made of cellulose-type paper or similar.

Over its entire surface, but mainly on the surface that accommodates the disc, the casing may have any kind of publicity material printed on it.

In order that the invention may be better understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the upper portion, and; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view.

The drawings carry identical reference numerals indicating the parts mentioned as well as the relationship between them and the assembly that they form.

The protective device is constituted by a pouchlike body which is open at one of its ends at which is provided an elastic element 1, whereas within the opposite end is fitted a flat rigid disc-like element 2 containing openings 3. Disposed below this element is a further element 4 made of sponge-like material having great porosity. The casing can be made of any one of a wide variety of fabrics, including cellulose paper if the device is to be used by one person only.

The entire surface of the casing may carry any kind of publicity matter 5. In the zone where it joins the disc 3, the casing has orifices 6 for preventing distortion or poor aural reception.

In use, the device is fitted over the mouthpiece (not shown) of a telephone where it protects the user from germs present on the mouthpiece from a previous user.

In general, the shape, materials and dimensions of accessory and secondary parts may be varied provided that this does not alter, change or modify the main purpose that they are intended to fulfil.

1. A protective device for telephones said device comprising a pouch-like casing of flexible material open at one end, the open edge of which is provided with an elastic reinforcement means, whereas at the opposite, closed, end is housed a rigid disc-like element having orifices in its surface, and a further element of sponge material below the disc-like element.

2. A protective device as claimed in claim 1 wherein that part of the casing which covers the disc-like element is provided with orifices arranged so as to prevent distortion of or interference with the conversation passing through the device during use.

3. A protective device as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said casing is made from washable fabric.

4. A protective device as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said casing is made from cellulose material or the like.

5. A protective device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the surface of the casing is capable of receiving and supporting publicity material such as advertising.

6. A protective device for telephones substantially as as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Protective device for telephones This invention relates to a protective device for telephones and the like. It is an indisputable fact that the majority of illnesses are contracted by more or less direct contact and more or less immediately, although it is not known, for example, in the majority of cases, how a "city" man can contract illnesses peculiar to the countryside or vice versa. It also often happens that contagion occurs and the bacillus continues to be present while the immunisation threshold diminishes, and it then suddenly appears. Specific cases are those that occur when a healthy person comes into direct contact through some part of his body with objects that have been previously touched or infected by sick persons who, without being aware of it, are carriers of germs, bacilli or viruses. Personal isolation is of course practically impossible in normal life, but it is not impossible to isolate those objects which, because of their specific nature and the uses to which they are put, are, to a very large extent, at least possible repositories of microbes which may or may not be innocuous. A particular case of such objects are telephones in general and especially public telephones which are used every day by a large number of people who necessarily hold the instruments close to, or due to carelessness, directly against their mouths and noses so that, unfortunately, other users are undoubtedly exposed to contagion every day. To prevent such contagion a personal protective device has been designed for fitting on such apparatus, which device can be rapidly attached and, after use, removed without in any way affecting the apparatus or its subsequent use. In accordance with the invention there is provided a protective device for telephones said device comprising a pouch-like casing of flexible material open at one end, the open edge of which is provided with an elastic reinforcement means, whereas at the opposite, closed, end is housed a rigid disc-like element having orifices in its surface, and a further element of sponge material below the disc-like element. If the protective device is to be used on a continuous basis, it is preferably made of a strong fabric capable of being washed, whereas if intended for use by one person only, it can be made of cellulose-type paper or similar. Over its entire surface, but mainly on the surface that accommodates the disc, the casing may have any kind of publicity material printed on it. In order that the invention may be better understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the upper portion, and; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view. The drawings carry identical reference numerals indicating the parts mentioned as well as the relationship between them and the assembly that they form. The protective device is constituted by a pouchlike body which is open at one of its ends at which is provided an elastic element 1, whereas within the opposite end is fitted a flat rigid disc-like element 2 containing openings 3. Disposed below this element is a further element 4 made of sponge-like material having great porosity. The casing can be made of any one of a wide variety of fabrics, including cellulose paper if the device is to be used by one person only. The entire surface of the casing may carry any kind of publicity matter 5. In the zone where it joins the disc 3, the casing has orifices 6 for preventing distortion or poor aural reception. In use, the device is fitted over the mouthpiece (not shown) of a telephone where it protects the user from germs present on the mouthpiece from a previous user. In general, the shape, materials and dimensions of accessory and secondary parts may be varied provided that this does not alter, change or modify the main purpose that they are intended to fulfil. CLAIMS