GB2436284A

GB2436284A - Manually operable opening device with liquid dispensing means

Info

Publication number: GB2436284A
Application number: GB0605820A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nikolas John Venios; Robert Oliver Vasey
Original assignee: GERMBLOCK Ltd
Current assignee: GERMBLOCK Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-23
Filing date: 2006-03-23
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Also published as: WO2007107784A2; GB0605820D0; WO2007107784A3

Abstract

A manually operable opening device, e.g. handle 12, comprises an attachment part 16 for attachment to a support such as a door, and a contact part 18 which a user may touch when using the opening device 12, the contact part 18 includes a generally rigid hollow shell which encloses an interior space 20 of the contact part 18 and in which is provided an aperture 22, and an absorbent wicking part 24 which extends from the interior space 20 of the contact part 18 through the aperture 22, wherein the handle 12 further includes a docking part 26 which is adapted to engage with and support a vessel of liquid 14, and which is configured such that liquid from a vessel 14 engaged with and supported in the docking part 26 is absorbed by the absorbent wicking part 24. The vessel preferably contains an antibacterial fluid such as a hand sanitiser to kill any bacteria present on the users hand. The opening device may take the form of a push-plate for a door [figure 4] and can be used in hospitals to improve levels of hygiene.

Description

Title: Handle Descrirtion of Invention The present invention relates to

a manually operable opening device, such as a door handle or push-plate.

In environments such as hospitals, it is particularly important to maintain stringent standards of hygiene to minimise the spread of bacteria, and thus reduce the risk of infection, If a user of hospital bathroom facilities does not wash his or her hands thoroughly after using the toilet, bacteria may be transferred from the user's hands to a handle on the toilet or bathroom door, and from there, be transferred to the hands of a subsequent user, and then

further afield around the hospital.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a manually operable opening device comprising an attachment part for attachment to a support such as a door, and a manual contact part which a user touches when using the opening device, the contact part including a generally rigid hollow shell which at least substantially encloses an interior space of the contact part and in which is provided an aperture, and an absorbent wicking part which extends from the interior space of the contact part through the aperture, wherein the opening device further includes a docking part which is adapted to engage with and support a vessel of liquid, and which is configured such that liquid from a vessel engaged with and supported in the docking part is absorbed by the absorbent wicking part.

Thus, if a vessel containing an antibacterial fluid, such as a conventional hand-wash or hand sanitizer liquid, is engaged with the docking part, the antibacterial fluid may be absorbed by the absorbent wicking part, and transferred through the aperture to the hand or hands of a user when the user touches the contact part, thus killing a proportion of the bacteria on the user's hand or hands. Furthermore, if the user moves his hand across or along the contact part during use, the antibacterial fluid may be spread over the rigid shell of the contact part, where the antibacterial fluid may kill a proportion of the bacteria present on the shell. Thus, where used in a hospital, for example as a toilet or bathroom door handle or push-plate, the invention may assist in reducing spread of bacteria, and hence the incidence of bacterial infection, in the hospital.

The contact part may be generally elongate, and the or each aperture may extend longitudinally along the contact part. Moreover, the contact part includes a plurality of apertures, the absorbent wicking part extending through each of the apertures.

The opening device may be a handle, the contact part comprising a grip part which a user may grip when using the handle. In this case, the grip part may be generally tubular, and the apertures may be spaced around the circumference of the grip part. Providing a plurality of apertures, and arranging them in this way may assist in increasing the likelihood of a user touching the absorbent wicking part irrespective of the precise way in which the user grips the handle.

The opening device may instead comprise a push-plate.

The absorbent wicking part may be made from a foamed polymer.

The docking part may be located in the interior space of the grip part, the absorbent wicking part only partly filling the interior space, so that a vessel engaged with the docking part may also be located in the interior space of the grip part.

The contact part may comprise a first part which is integral with or connected to the attachment part, and a second part which is releasably connected to the first part, disengagement of the second part from the first part permitting access to the interior space of the contact part. The provision of such a two part contact part, may enable a user readily to replace a vessel engaged with the docking part, once that vessel is empty.

In order to further enhance the hygiene properties of the handle, the shell of the contact part may be made from or coated with a material containing an antibacterial or an antimicrobial additive.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a manually operable opening device assembly comprising a manually operable opening device and a vessel of liquid, the manually operable opening device comprising an attachment part for attachment to a support such as a door, and a contact part which a user may touch when using the opening device, the contact part including a generally rigid hollow shell which at least substantially encloses an interior space of the contact part and in which is provided an aperture, and an absorbent wicking part which extends from the interior space of the contact part through the aperture, wherein the opening device further includes a docking part which is engaged with and supports the vessel of liquid, and configured such that liquid from the vessel is absorbed by the absorbent wicking part.

Preferably the vessel contains an anti-bacterial or bactericidal liquid.

The opening device may have any of the features of the opening device according to the first aspect of the invention.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which, Figure 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of a handle assembly according to the invention, Figure 2 is an illustration of a cross-section through the handle assembly illustrated in Figure 1 showing an enlarged view of the liquid-containing vessel, FIGURE 3 is a perspective illustration of the handle assembly of Figures 1 and 2 shown in a disassembled state, FIGURE 4 is a perspective illustration of a push-plate according to the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a handle assembly comprising handle 12 and a vessel 14, which, in this example is a bottle of anti-bacterial or bactericidal hand-sanitiser liquid. Such hand-sanitiser liquids are well-known, and may comprise water-based solutions of a bactericidal agent such as benzalkonium chloride. A product sold under the name Hands2Go, and manufactured by Water Journey, Inc., is an example of one such product.

The viscosity of the hand-sanitiser liquid can be altered, and the vessel 14 may contain a hand-sanitiser gel.

It will be appreciated that, although a primary advantage of the invention, namely the reduction in the spread of bacteria through manual contact with a handle such as a toilet or bathroom door handle, depends on the liquid in the vessel being anti-bacterial or bactericidal, this need not be the case. The liquid may, for example, contain moisturiser and/or a perfume, the invention thus providing users of the handle with pleasantly moisturised or perfumed hands.

The handle 12 is generally U-shaped, the two side arms 16a, 16b of the U forming an attachment part 16 for attachment to a support such as a door, and the part extending between the two side arms 16a, 16b forming a grip part 18 which a user may hold when using the handle. Conventional mounting means, such as apertures 17 for receiving screws are provided in the attachment part 16 to facilitate fixing of the handle to a door or the like.

The grip part 18 comprises a generally rigid hollow shell 19 which encloses an interior space 20 of the grip part 18 and in which is provided a plurality of apertures 22. In this example, the grip part 18 is tubular and has a generally circular cross-section. The apertures 22 are elongate slots, extend longitudinally along the grip part 18, and are spaced generally equally around the circumference of the grip part 18.

The hollow shell 19 of the grip part 18 is, in this example, integral with the attachment part 16, and may be made from any sufficiently strong and rigid material for the handle 12 to provide the handle 12 with adequate mechanical integrity to withstand the loads applied by a person pulling on or pushing the handle 12 to open the door to which the handle 12 is attached, or to otherwise use the handle 12 for purpose for which it is provided. Preferably, however, the grip part 18 is made from a plastics material, and may be made from or coated with a material containing an antibacterial or an antimicrobial additive.

Materials containing such additives are well-known, and are, for example, sold under the trade mark MICROBAN . The grip part 18 may alternatively be made from a metallic material, such as stainless steel or brushed aluminium.

An absorbent wicking part 24, which, in this example is elongate and has a generally cruciform transverse cross-section, is provided, and extends along a substantial part of the interior space 20 of the grip part. The wicking part 24 is fitted sufficiently tightly into the interior space 20 that it extends out of the apertures 22, so that a user handling the grip part 18 may touch not only the shell 19, but also the wicking part 24. In this example, the wicking part 24 is made from a foamed polymer, but may be made from a woven or fleece textile, or any other suitable absorbent material.

The handle 12 further includes a docking part 26 which is adapted to engage with and support the vessel of anti-bacterial hand-sanitiser liquid 14, and which is configured such that liquid from the vessel 14, is absorbed by the absorbent wicking part. The absorbent wicking part 24 acts as a wick for the hand-sanitiser liquid and draws the liquid by capillary action to the exterior surface of the grip part 18. Thus, when a user grips the handle 12, and the user's hand touches the wicking part 24 through one or more of the apertures 22, hanci-sanftiser liquid may be transferred to the user's hand, thus killing a proportion of the bacteria on the user's hand. Moreover, if the user's hand moves along or around the grip portion 18 during use, hand-sanitiser liquid may be smeared over the shell 19 of the grip part 18, where the hand-sanitiser liquid may kill a proportion of the bacteria present on the shell 19. Thus, where used in a hospital, for example as a toilet or bathroom door handle, such a handle assembly may assist in reducing spread of bacteria, and hence the incidence of bacterial infection, in the hospital.

The viscosity of the hand-sanitiser liquid can be selected to ensure optimum flow of the hand-sanitiser liquid along the wicking part 24. For example, if it is found that the hand-sanitiser liquid is flowing too rapidly along the wicking part 24, a hand-sanitiser gel may be used.

In this example, the docking part 26 is located in the interior space 20 of the grip part 18, in a portion of the interior space 20 not occupied by the absorbent wicking part 24, and engages with an end of the absorbent wicking part 24.

The docking part 26 is secured with the grip part 18 by a plastic cradle 39a, 39b, which may be integrally moulded with the grip part 18. Preferably, in use, the handle 12 is oriented such that the docking part 26 engages with an uppermost end of the absorbent wicking part 24, i.e. the docking part 26 is located generally vertically above the wicking part 24, and the portion of the interior space 20 of the grip part 18 in which the vessel is located extends generally vertically above the wicking part 24.

As will be appreciated, the exact configuration of the docking part 26 depends on the configuration of the vessel with which it is adapted to engage. In this example, the vessel of hand-sanitiser 14 is a bottle with a generally cylindrical neck 28, the neck 28 being provided at a free end with an outwardly extending lip 28a, and the docking part 26 includes a corresponding tubular part 30 with a generally circular cross-section which is slightly larger in diameter than the neck 28 of the bottle 14. The uppermost end 30b of the tubular part 30 is open whilst lowermost end 30a of the tubular part 30 is partly closed, and the bottle neck 28 is inserted into the open uppermost end 30b. Thus, the vessel 14 is inverted when mounted in the docking part 26. Arranging the vessel 14 in this way, namely vertically above the absorbent wicking part 24, may be advantageous, as flow of liquid along the absorbent wicking part 24 assisted by gravity, in addition to flow by capillary action.

The tubular part 30 is provided on its interior surface with two circumferential grooves 31a, 31b, the outwardly extending lip 28a of the bottle neck 28 snapping into the first groove 31a, and then the second groove 31b as the bottle neck 28 is inserted into the docking part 26. The engagement of the lip 28a in one of the grooves 31 a, 31 b supports the neck 28 of the bottle 14 when inserted in the tubular part 30.

The tubular part 30 is also provided with an inner tube 32 which located at the partially closed lowermost end 30a of the tubular part 30, coaxially with the tubular part 30, the uppermost end 32a of the inner tube 32 being sharpened.

The lowermost end 32b of the inner tube extends downwardly of the remainder of the docking part 26, and engages with the wicking part 24.

Prior to use, the vessel 14 is sealed with a frangible membrane, so as to avoid leakage of the contents when the vessel 14 is inverted whilst being inserted into the docking part 26. The inner tube 32 is positioned such that as the vessel is pushed into the docking part 26, and the outwardly extending lip 28a is pushed into the second groove 31b, the sharpened end 32a of the inner tube 32 pierces the membrane, and liquid from the vessel 14 may flow along the inner tuber 32 to the wicking part 24. Thus, flow of liquid from the vessel 14 is regulated by the diameter of the inner tube 32, and the porosity of the wicking part 24, in addition to the viscosity of the liquid.

It will be appreciated, however, that any configuration of vessel and docking part can be used, providing the docking part can support the vessel 14 whilst facilitating flow of liquid to the wicking part 24.

For example, the docking part 26 need not be provided with grooves 31a, 31b, and may instead be provided with a screw thread which engages with a corresponding screw thread provided on the bottle neck 28. In this case, the bottle 28 would be twisted until the sharpened end 32a of the inner tuber 32 pierces the membrane.

The vessel 14 need not be sealed using a frangible membrane, however, and in order to regulate flow of liquid from the vessel 14, particularly during mounting of the vessel 14 in the docking part 26, the vessel 14 may be provided with a valve which includes a valve member, and a valve seat, the valve member being movable into engagement with the valve seat substantially to prevent flow of liquid from the vessel 14.

In order to prevent flow of liquid out of the vessel 14 whilst the vessel 14 is inverted in preparation for mounting the vessel 14 in the docking part 26, the valve member may be biased into engagement with the valve seat. The valve and docking part 26 may be configured such when the vessel 14 is mounted in the docking part 26, the docking part 26 engages with the valve member and moves it out of engagement with the valve seat such that liquid may flow out of the vessel 14, through the lowermost end 30a of the tubular part 30 and onto the absorbent wicking part 24. Similarly, when the vessel 14 is removed from the docking part 26, the valve member may be adapted to move back into engagement with the valve seat, substantially to close the vessel 14.

In order to facilitate access to the interior space 19 of the grip part 18, the grip part 18 is made in two parts -a first part 18a which is integral with a rear portion of the attachment part 16, and thus, in use, forms a rear portion of the grip part 18 closest to a door or other object on which the handle 12 is mounted, and a second part 18b which is releasably connected to the first part 18a and which forms a front portion of the grip part 18 and the attachment part 16 relative to the door or other object on which the handle 12 is mounted. The first and second parts 18a, 18b of the grip part 18 are provided with corresponding formations which enable the two parts 18a, 18b to be releasably connected together in a conventional snap-fit arrangement.

In this example, the secondparf 18b of the grip part 18 is provided with a flexible clip 35, which snaps into a correlating extruded slot 34 of the first part 1 8a, and a secondary smaller protruding clip 36, which sits into a further extruded slot 37. To provide additional securement, the second part 1 8b is also provided with two protrusions 39b, 39c which engage with corresponding formations in the first part 18a.

In order to prepare the handle assembly for use, a user may thus remove the second part 18b of the grip part 18, mount a bottle of hand-sanitiser 14 on the docking part 26, and then snap-fit the second part 18b back into place on the first part 1 8a of the grip part 18. Similarly, a user may replace an empty bottle of hand-sanitiser by removing the second part 18b of the grip part 18, removing the empty bottle 14 from the docking part 26, mounting a new bottle of hand-sanitiser 14 on the docking part 26, and snap-fitting the second part 18b back on the the first part 18a of the grip part 18.

The first 18a and second 18b parts of the grip part 18, may, alternatively form left and right sides of the grip part 18 respectively.

In this case, the side arms 1 6a and 1 6b of the attachment part 16 may also be split into left and right sides, the left and rights sides of the side arms 16a and 16b being integral with the first 18a and second 18b parts of the grip part respectively, and the mounting means by which the attachment part 16 is fixed to a door or the like being provided on the left side of the side arms 16a, 16b only.

To enable a user to determine when the vessel 14 needs replacing, an aperture 38 is provided in this grip part 18 adjacent the vessel 14. Thus, the user may look through the aperture 38 and see the level of fluid contained within the vessel 14.

It will be appreciated that whilst the handle assembly 10 may be designed such that, when the contents of the vessel of antibacterial liquid 14 is exhausted, the vessel 14 alone is replaced, the wicking part 24, docking part 26 may also be removable, and may be designed to be replaced along with the vessel 14. In this case, preferably the vessel 14, wicking part 24 and docking part 26 are designed to be removed together as a single unit and replaced with a new vessel 14, wicking part 24 and docking part 26 unit, engagement of the docking part 26 with its supports causing the vessel 14 to be opened and flow of fluid to the wicking part 24 to commence.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to use in relation to handles of the particular U-shaped configuration described above, and the required docking part and apertures may be provided in the grip part of any other configuration of handle.

Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 4, the invention can also be applied to a push-plate 40, for opening a door by pushing. The push-plate 40 is oval shaped, the attachment part 42 comprising an oval plate which includes screw holes by means of which the plate 42 may be attached to a door, and snap-fit formations which are adapted to engage with corresponding formations on the contact part 44. The contact part 44 is also oval and has sides which extend outwardly from the attachment plate 42, and a top portion which is generally flat, and which lies approximately parallel to the attachment plate 42. An aperture 46 is provided in the top portion of the contact part 44, the aperture 46 in this example being generally rectangular, and the wicking part 48, which comprises a generally rectangular pad, extends through the aperture 46 from the interior space of the contact part 44. The docking part (not shown) is configured as described above in relation to the handle assembly 10, although it will be appreciated that, in order to fit inside the interior space provided by the contact part 44 of the push-plate 40, it would be necessary to use a different shape of vessel.

The invention is not, of course, restricted to use in hospitals, but may be used in any location in which improved hygiene standards are desired.

In an alternative embodiment of manually operable opening device, in addition to or instead of the use of a vessel of anti- bacterial liquid, the wicking part itself may be impregnated with an anti-bacterial or bactericidal agent, such as quaternary ammonium salts.

The opening device may be provided with an expiry date indicator which provides a signal to a user when the wicking part ought to be replaced in order to maintain hygiene standards. Such expiry date indicators are sold under the name Timestrip , and may operate by means of the migration of a coloured liquid along a porous strip by capiiliary action, the indicator being activated by breaking the seal on a container of the liquid when commencing use of the wicking part.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A manually operable opening device comprising an attachment part for attachment to an support such as a door, and a contact part which a user may touch when using the opening device, the contact part including a generally rigid hollow shell which at least substantially encloses an interior space of the contact part and in which is provided an aperture, and an absorbent wicking part which extends from the interior space of the contact part through the aperture, wherein the handle further includes a docking part which is adapted to engage with and support a vessel of liquid, and which is configured such that liquid from a vessel engaged with and supported in the docking part is absorbed by the absorbent wicking part.

2. An opening device according to claim 1 wherein the contact part is generally elongate, and the or each aperture extends longitudinally along the contact part.

3. An opening device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the contact part includes a plurality of apertures, the absorbent wicking part extending through each of the apertures.

4. An opening device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening device is a handle, the contact part comprising a grip part which a user may grip when using the handle.

5. An opening device according to claim 4 wherein the grip part is generally tubular, and the apertures are spaced around the circumference of the grip part.

6. An opening device according to any preceding claim wherein the absorbent wicking part is made from a foamed polymer.

7. An opening device according to any preceding claim wherein the docking part is located in the interior space of the contact part, the absorbent wicking part only partly filling the interior space, so that a vessel engaged with the docking part may also be located in the interior space of the contact part.

8. An opening device according to any preceding claim wherein the contact part comprises a first part which is integral with or connected to the attachment part, and a second part which is releasably connected to the first part, disengagement of the second part from the first part permitting access to the interior space of the contact part.

9. An opening device according to any preceding claim wherein the shell of the contact part is made from or coated with a material containing an antibacterial or an antimicrobial additive.

10. An opening device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A manually operable opening device assembly comprising a manually operable opening device and a vessel of fluid, the handle comprising an attachment part for attachment to an support such as a door, and a contact part which a user may touch when using the opening device, the contact part including a generally rigid hollow shell which at least substantially encloses an interior space of the contact part and in which is provided an aperture, and an absorbent wicking part which extends from the interior space of the contact part through the aperture, wherein the opening device further includes a docking part which is engaged with and supports the vessel of liquid, and configured such that liquid from the vessel is absorbed by the absorbent wicking part.

12. An opening device assembly according to claim 11 wherein the vessel contains an anti-bacterial or bactericidal liquid.

13. An opening device assembly according to claim 11 wherein the opening device is in accordance with any one of claims ito 10.

14. An opening device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.