GB2382987A

GB2382987A - Self-disinfecting device

Info

Publication number: GB2382987A
Application number: GB0129634A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Smith
Original assignee: Rentokil Initial PLC
Current assignee: Rentokil Initial PLC
Priority date: 2001-12-11
Filing date: 2001-12-11
Publication date: 2003-06-18
Also published as: WO2003050366A1; GB0129634D0; AU2002343049A1

Abstract

A self-disinfecting device which, in use is contacted by a hand, includes a plurality of rotatable rollers which are so positioned as to be contacted by a hand when the device is included in door push-plates, door-lock handles and handles on fixtures. The contact with a hand serves to rotate the rollers which lie in contact with a base member carrying a disinfecting agent. The base member may be a mat or have a hollow cylindrical form, and may be made of spongy material. The rollers may be plastic. Also claimed are a door push-plate, door-lock or door-pull handles, a cistern handle, or a toilet flush handle incorporating the self-disinfecting device.

Description

A self-disinfecting device The invention relates to a self-disinfecting device which, in use, is contacted by a hand in the operation of a handle or the like including the self-disinfecting device.

The invention provides a self-disinfecting device which, in use, is contacted by a hand, including: a plurality of rollers, a resilient base member in contact with the plurality of rollers and support means so supporting the resilient base member and the plurality of rollers as to permit contact with the rollers by a hand and rotation of the rollers in contact with the resilient base member, the resilient base member, in the use of the device, carrying a disinfecting agent for transfer to the rollers as they rotate in contact with the resilient base member.

Preferably, the device includes a plurality of intermediate members lying between the rollers.

In one arrangement, the device includes a plurality of ribs, belonging to the support means, lying between the rollers.

In a first form of the device, the resilient base member is a mat, the support means being so shaped as to support the mat form of the base member.

In the first form of the device, the resilient base member has a rectangular periphery and the axes of rotation of the rollers are skewed in relation to the sides of the rectangle.

In a second form of the device, the resilient base member has a hollow cylindrical form, the support means

including a shaft extending into the hollow of the hollow cylindrical base member.

Preferably, the resilient base member is made of a spongy material.

In the form of the device including ribs, preferably, the ribs are so contoured as to include curved peripheries corresponding to the curvature of the rollers and, preferably the ribs are made of a plastics material.

Preferably, the rollers are made of a plastics material and, preferably, the device includes acetal rollers.

Preferably, the device includes an end cap having clip means which engage the shaft.

Several self-disinfecting devices in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a rectangular pushplate, for a door, including a first self-disinfecting device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal cross-section of the push-plate of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal cross-section of a pull-handle, for a door, including a second selfdisinfecting device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 4 represents an end-on view of the right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the pull-handle of Fig. 3 without an outer end cap, Fig. 5 represents a view from the right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the pull-handle of Fig. 3 with the outer end cap,

Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal cross-section of a handle, for a door-lock, including a third self- disinfecting device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 7 represents an end-on view of the right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the handle of Fig. 6 without an outer end cap, Fig. 8 represents a view from the right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the handle of Fig. 6 with the outer end cap, Fig. 9 represents a longitudinal cross-section of a flush-lever handle, for a cistern, including the third self-disinfecting device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 10 represents an end-on view of the right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the flush-lever handle of Fig. 9 without the outer end cap, Fig. 11 represents a view from the right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, of the flush-lever handle of Fig. 9 with the outer end cap, Fig. 12 represent a part exploded perspective view of the door-lock handle of Fig. 6, Fig. 13 is an enlarged representation of Fig. 7 and Fig. 14 is an enlarged representation of the righthand end, as viewed in the drawing, of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, a push-plate, for a door, including a first device in accordance with the invention, includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers la, lb... ln, a resilient base member 2 in contact with the rollers la, lb... ln and a rectangular support frame 3 supporting the resilient base member 2 and the rollers la, lb... ln. A plurality of intermediate members, in the form of ribs 4a, 4b... 4n which

are a part of the rectangular support frame 3, lie between the rollers la, lb... ln.

The resilient base member 2 has the form of a mat, is spongy and, as a result, is capable of carrying a disinfecting agent by absorbing the disinfecting agent in addition to carrying the disinfecting agent on its surface.

The cylindrical rollers la, lb... In are injection moulded acetal rollers which are supported by axial end pins, integral with the rollers la, lb... ln, which fit into apertures along the longer sides of the rectangular support frame 3. The rollers a, lb... ln are free to rotate with their support pins and the contact between the resilient base member 2 and the rollers la, lb... ln results in the resilient base member 2 applying disinfecting agent to the surfaces of the rollers la, lb... ln as they rotate. The axes of the rollers la, lb... In are skewed in relation to the sides of the rectangular support frame 3.

In use, the support frame 3 of the push-plate is attached, by screws, to a surface of a door at a level at which a hand contacts the door in order to push on the door. A force exerted by a hand on the push-plate in a direction tending to rotate the rollers la, lb... In serves to rotate at least some of the rollers la, Ib... In. As rollers rotate, a disinfecting agent on the surface of the resilient base member 2 is wiped on to the surfaces of the rotating rollers and, as a result, the rollers are disinfected and the push-plate is self-disinfecting.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, a pull-handle, for a door, including a second device in accordance with the invention, includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers lla, llb... lln, a resilient hollow-cylindrical base member 22 in contact with the

rollers lla, llb... lln and a cylindrical support shaft 33, in the hollow of the hollow-cylindrical base member 22, supporting the resilient base member 22.

The rollers lla, llb... lln are supported in end support members 5 and 6 which are attached by screws to the ends of intermediate members 44a, 44b... 44n forming a part of a support frame. The end support members 5, 6 are attachable, by screws, to a door for attaching the pull-handle to a door.

The cylindrical rollers lla, llb... lln are injection moulded acetal rollers which are supported by integral axial pins which fit into apertures in the end support members 5 and 6. The rollers lla, llb... lln are free to rotate with their support pins and the contact between the resilient base member 22 and the rollers lla, llb... lln results in the resilient base member 22 applying disinfecting agent to the surfaces of the rollers lla, llb... lln as they rotate. The axes of the rollers lla, llb... lln lie parallel to the axis of the hollow-cylindrical base member 22 and the cylindrical support shaft 33.

The intermediate members 44a, 44b... 44n have a transverse cross-section that is substantially a truncated equilateral triangle so contoured as to include, adjacent to the rollers lla, llb... lln, curved peripheries matching the curved peripheries of the rollers lla, llb... lln and convex outer surfaces matching the curvature of the door handle. The intermediate members 44a, 44b... 44n include end cavities for receiving screws for securing the end support members 5,6 to the body of the pull-handle.

In use, the end support members 5 and 6 are attached, by screws, to a surface of a door at a comfortable level for pulling on the door. A pulling force exerted by a hand

on the pull-handle in a direction tending to rotate the rollers lla, llb... lln serves to rotate at least some of the rollers lla, llb... lln. As rollers rotate, a disinfecting agent on the surface of the resilient base member 22 is wiped on to the surfaces of the rotating rollers and, as a result, the rollers are disinfected and the pull-handle is self-disinfecting.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, a handle, for a door-lock, including a third self-disinfecting device in accordance with the invention, includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers llla, lllb... llln, a resilient hollow-cylindrical base member 222 in contact with the rollers llla, lllb... llln and a cylindrical support shaft 333 in the hollow of the hollowcylindrical base member 222 supporting the resilient base member 222. A plurality of intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n lie between the rollers llla, lllb... llln.

An end support member 7 supports one end of the rollers llla, lllb... llln and the shaft 333 while the shaft 333 supports the resilient base member 222. An end support member 8 supports the other end of the rollers llla, lllb... llln. The intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n are integral with the end support member 7 and form a part of a support frame. The end support member 8 is attached by screws to the intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n. The end support member 7 is rotatably attached to an attachment member 9 attachable, by screws, to a door. The end support member 7 includes an aperture for receiving the operating shaft of a door lock and, when the handle is fitted to a door lock operable by twisting the operating shaft, the door lock is operated by pushing on the handle to rotate the operating shaft of the door lock.

The intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n have a transverse cross-section that is substantially a truncated equilateral triangle so contoured as to include, adjacent to the rollers llla, lllb... llln, curved peripheries matching the curved peripheries of the rollers llla, lllb... llln and convex outer surfaces matching the curvature of the door handle. The intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n include end cavities for receiving screws for securing the end support member 8 to the body of the door handle.

The acetal rollers llla, lllb... llln are free to rotate with their support pins which are integral with the rollers llla, lllb... llln and the contact between the rollers Illa, lllb... lln and the resilient base member 222 results in the resilient base member 222 applying disinfecting agent to the surfaces of the rollers llla, lllb... llln as they rotate.

The axes of the rollers llla, lllb... llln lie parallel to the axis of the hollow-cylindrical base member 222 and the cylindrical support shaft 333.

In use, the attachment member 9 is attached, by screws, to a surface of a door at a level at which the end support member 7 receives the operating shaft of a lock attached to the door. A force exerted by a hand on the handle in a sense tending to rotate the rollers llla, lllb... llln, usually in operating the door lock, serves to rotate at least some of the rollers llla, lllb... llln. As rollers rotate, a disinfecting agent on the surface of the resilient base member 222 is wiped on to the surfaces of the rotating rollers and, as a result, the rollers are disinfected and the handle is self-disinfecting.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings, a handle, for a flush-lever of a cistern, including the third self-disinfecting device in accordance

with the invention, includes as in Figs. 6 to 8, the plurality of cylindrical rollers llla, lllb... llln, the resilient hollow-cylindrical base member 222 in contact with the rollers llla, lllb... llln and the cylindrical support shaft 333 in the hollow of the hollow-cylindrical base member 222 supporting the resilient base member 222.

The plurality of intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n lie between the rollers llla, lllb... llln.

An end support member 10 supports one end of rollers llla, lllb... llln and the shaft 333 while the shaft 333 supports the resilient base member 222. The end support member 8 supports the other end of the rollers llla, lllb... llln and is attached to the intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n. The end support member 10 is rotatably attached to an attachment member 12 enabling attachment to a cistern. The end support member 10 includes an aperture for receiving the operating shaft of a cistern and, when the handle is fitted to a cistern operable by twisting the operating shaft, the cistern is operated by pushing on the handle to rotate the operating shaft of the cistern.

Other details given above in respect of components of Figs. 6 to 8 the same for those components when present in Figs. 9 to 11.

Fig. 12 shows, in a part-exploded perspective view, the handle of Figs. 6 to 8 including the plurality of cylindrical rollers llla, lllb... llln, the resilient hollowcylindrical base member 222 in contact with the rollers llla, lllb... llln and the cylindrical support shaft 333 in the hollow of the hollow-cylindrical base member 222 supporting the resilient base member 222. Also shown are the rollers llla, lllb... llln, the plurality of intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n lying between the rollers llla,

lllb... llln, the end support member 7 and the end support member 8.

Referring to Fig. 13 of the accompanying drawings, an enlarged representation of Fig. 7 shows the cylindrical support shaft 333 around which lies the hollow cylindrical base member 222. Rollers llla, lllb... llln lie in contact with the base member 222 and intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n alternate with the rollers llla, lllb... llln. The intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n belong to the support frame which supports the rollers llla, lllb... llln.

The intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n have a transverse cross-section that is substantially a truncated equilateral triangle so contoured as to include, adjacent to the rollers llla, lllb... llln, curved peripheries matching the curved peripheries of the rollers llla, lllb... llln and convex outer surfaces matching the curvature of the door handle. The intermediate members 444a, 444b... 444n include end cavities for receiving screws for securing the end support member of the door handle to the body of the door handle. The end support member 8 includes an inner part and an outer cap.

Referring to Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings, an enlarged representation of the free end of Fig. 6 shows a roller llln, the base member 222, the support shaft 333 and an intermediate member 444n. As is seen in Fig. 14, the roller llln includes a reduced-diameter end portion serving as a mounting pin 13 for the roller llln, the mounting pin 13 being supported in a cavity in the inner part 14 of the end support member 8 of the door handle. The inner part 14 of the end support member 8 is secured to the intermediate members by screws and an outer cap 15 of the end support member 8 is held to the support shaft 333 by a plurality of

resilient clip members 16a, 16b which engage an enlargement 17 at the end of the support shaft 333. The enlargement 17 at the end of the shaft 333 has a cylindrical base portion topped by a truncated conical portion, the sides of the truncated conical portion of the enlargement 17 being level with two apertures 18,19 in the outer cap 15 of the end support member 8. The shape of the enlargement 17 at the end of the support shaft 333 and the position of the enlargement 17 in relation to the apertures 18,19 serves to permit the resilient clip members 16a, 16b to be lifted off the enlargement 17. The resilient clip members 16a, 16b are lifted off the enlargement 17 by inserting a twopronged tool into the apertures 16a, 16b. By means of the tool, which pushes the clip members 16a, 16b away from the enlargement 17 as the prongs 20a, 20b slide along the enlargement 17, the outer cap 15 of the end support member 8 is unclipped. The outer end cap 15 is welded to the remainder of the roller support assembly and controls the removal of the roller support assembly for replacing the base member.

In Fig. 14, the hatched outlines of the clip members 16a, 16b represent the clip members 16a, 16b in the engaged positions on the support shaft 333 while the clear outlines represent the clip members 16a, 16b in the released position. The clip-on outer cap 15 serves to reduce the chances of the handle being dismantled by persons not authorised to do so.

Self-disinfecting devices in accordance with the invention are especially suitable for inclusion in door push-plates, door-lock handles and handles on other fixtures in the vicinity of washrooms or areas where hygiene is especially important.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A self-disinfecting device which, in use, is contacted by a hand, including: a plurality of rollers, a resilient base member in contact with the plurality of rollers and support means so supporting the resilient base member and the plurality of rollers as to permit contact with the rollers by a hand and rotation of the rollers in contact with the resilient base member, the resilient base member, in the use of the device, carrying a disinfecting agent for transfer to the rollers as they rotate in contact with the resilient base member.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of intermediate members lying between the rollers.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of ribs, belonging to the support means, lying between the rollers.
4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resilient base member is a mat, the support means being so shaped as to support the mat form of the base member.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resilient base member has a rectangular periphery and the axes of rotation of the rollers are skewed in relation to the sides of the rectangle.

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6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resilient base member has a hollow cylindrical form, the support means including a shaft extending into the hollow of the hollow cylindrical base member.
7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the resilient base member is made of a spongy material.
8. A device as claimed in claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 7 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the ribs are so contoured as to include curved peripheries corresponding to the curvature of the rollers.
9. A device as claimed in claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 8 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the ribs are made of a plastics material.
10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rollers are made of a plastics material.
11. A device as claimed in claim 10, including acetal rollers.
12. A device as claimed in claim 6 or any one of claims 5 to 11 when dependent on claim 6, including an end cap having clip means which engage the shaft.
13. A push-plate, for a door, including a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 or any one of claims 7 to 11 when dependent on any one of claims 1 to 5.

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14. A handle including a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 or any one of claims 7 to 12 when dependent on claim 6.
15. A handle as claimed in claim 14 which is a door-lock handle.
16. A handle as claimed in claim 14 which is a door pullhandle.
17. A handle as claimed in claimed in claim 14 which is a cistern handle.
18. A push-plate, for a door, including a self - disinfecting device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
19. A door-pull handle including a self-disinfecting device substantially as herein described with reference to and shown in Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
20. A door-lock handle including a self-disinfecting device substantially as herein described with reference to and shown in Figs. 6 to 8 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
21. A flush-lever handle including a self-disinfecting device substantially as herein described with reference to and shown in Figs. 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.