GB2593744A

GB2593744A - Manipulation device

Info

Publication number: GB2593744A
Application number: GB2004757.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wightman Paul; Gowers Marcel
Original assignee: Owen Greenings and Mumford Ltd
Current assignee: Owen Greenings and Mumford Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-31
Filing date: 2020-03-31
Publication date: 2021-10-06
Also published as: GB202004757D0

Abstract

A hand held manipulating device 1 for preventing contact between a user’s hand and an object, preferably a door handle, comprises first and second opposing walls 2, 3 connected by a connecting portion 4, wherein the connecting portion and opposing surfaces of the first and second opposing walls define a channel, and wherein the edges of the first and second opposing walls opposite to the connecting portion 4 form outwardly extending lips 6. The device preferably flexes around the longitudinal axis, e.g. via a portion of reduced thickness or a score line. The tip of the device may have an electrically conductive region to operate a touch screen. The surface of the device may include an antimicrobial additive or coating. A manipulating system may include the device and also a holder 21 which can sanitise the inner surfaces of the channel when not in use, e.g. via an ultraviolet light emitter or applying antimicrobial chemical or desiccant. The holder may include a lanyard 24.

Description

MANIPULATION DEVICE

Technical field

The present invention relates to a manipulation device, particularly for opening doors and the like by, for example, operating a handle. In particular a re-usable manipulation device for performing such operations in a hygienic manner.

Background

Skin, and in particular the surface of the hands, is often covered with microorganisms, some of which may be harmful and may pose a health risk should they be transferred to others. Manually operated doors, in particular inwardly opening doors, are typically opened by the use of a handle, to be operated by a user's hand. Once transferred to hard surfaces such as door handles, microorganisms may survive for extended periods. The shared use of door handles therefore represents a possible means of transfer for harmful microorganisms, as well as other substances, from the hand of one individual to the hand of another. This may be particularly dangerous in public places, where door handles may be used repeatedly by different people, and especially in hospitals or laboratories where it is critical that microbial transmission is minimised.

Doors leading from rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens may have particularly high numbers, or particularly harmful strains of microorganisms on their handles.

Handles cannot easily be removed from doors in public places, as many doors open inwards to avoid endangering any persons on the other side of the door. The installation of automatic doors in these locations would be expensive and often impractical. To mitigate the risk of contamination therefore, door handles in at-risk locations may be repeatedly cleaned or sanitized, for example with ethanol-based cleaning wipes. However in between cleanings, there is opportunity for multiple contamination events. Door handles are sometimes provided with antimicrobial coatings, such as copper or silver based coatings. However such coatings may be expensive, and are unlikely to provide effective protection for door handles in frequent use. To reduce handle use, doors may even be deliberately left open, creating a potential fire risk.

Some users may take personal measures to avoid contact between their hands and the door handle. For example, clothing or disposable items such as paper towels may be positioned between the user's hand and the handle during opening. However, these measures may not always be possible or effective. In particular, single-use items such as paper towels, or the means by which to dispose of said items, may not always be available.

In some buildings such as hospitals and laboratories, access to specific locations is restricted for security reasons. Therefore, doors may be provided with further security measures to allow only users having the appropriate credentials, or knowing a given passcode to open the door. The user may input such information via an interface such as a touchscreen. Touchscreens are also used more generally for the purposes such as computing or data input and retrieval, for example in hospitals. In addition to door handles, touchscreens provide a further opportunity for transmission of microorganisms or substances from the hands of one user to the hands of another.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand held manipulating device for preventing contact between a user's hand and an object being manipulated. The device comprises first and second opposing walls connected by a connecting portion. The connecting portion and opposing surfaces of the first and second opposing walls define a channel, and the edges of the first and second opposing walls opposite to the connecting portion form outwardly extending lips.

In an embodiment, the surfaces of the lips may provide an abutment portion for pushing against a manipulated object.

In an embodiment, the device may further comprises projections provided upon the abutment portion.

In an embodiment, the connecting portion may be curved.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand held manipulating device for preventing contact between a user's hand and an object being manipulated. The device comprises first and second opposing walls connected by a connecting portion. The connecting portion and opposing surfaces of the first and second opposing walls define a channel. The device may be configured to flex about a longitudinal axis of the device. The features of this aspect of the invention may be an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

In an embodiment, the device may further comprise at least one region of increased flexibility extending longitudinally along the device. A said region of increased flexibility may be located along a central axis of the connecting portion.

In an embodiment, the device may further comprise projections provided on inner surfaces of the channel.

In an embodiment, the device may further comprise endplates provided upon the shared edges of the connecting portion and the first and second opposing walls.

In an embodiment, the device may further comprising a tip configured to operate a touchscreen. The tip may be configured to operate a touchscreen comprises an electrically conductive region In an embodiment, the device may further comprise ribs provided on the outer surfaces of the connecting portion and first and second opposing walls.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the device may comprise an antimicrobial additive and / or coating.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manipulating system. The manipulating system comprises the device of any one preceding claim and a holder. The said holder comprises a portion configured to fit into the channel of the device.

In an embodiment, the holder may further comprise a means for attaching the holder to a support.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the holder may further comprise an antimicrobial additive and / or coating.

In an embodiment, the holder may further comprise sanitisafion means, configured to sanitise or sterilise inner surfaces of the channel.

In an embodiment, the sanitisation means may comprise an ultra-violet light emitter, configured to irradiate the inner surfaces of the channel.

In an embodiment, the holder may further comprise an antimicrobial chemical and / or a desiccant. The antimicrobial chemical and / or desiccant may be releasably contained within the portion of the holder configured to fit into the channel of the device.

In an embodiment, the holder may further comprise a retractable lanyard. The device may be configured to attach to said retractable lanyard.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a perspective view of an exemplary manipulation device; Figure 2 illustrates schematically a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates schematically a bottom perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates schematically a manipulation system comprising the device of Figure 1 and a holder; Figure 5 illustrates schematically the device of Figure 1 during use with a pull handle; Figure 6 illustrates schematically the device of Figure 1 during use with a push-plate; Figure 7 illustrates schematically an alternative side view of the device of Figure 1. Figure 8 illustrates schematically the device of Figure 1 during use with a lever handle;

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a perspective view of an exemplary manipulation device 1 for hygienic operation of, for example, a door handle. The exemplary device comprises first and second opposing walls 2, 3, and a connecting portion 4. Ribs 5 are provided on the outer surface of the walls 2, 3 and the connecting portion 4. The opposing walls 2, 3 are provided with outwardly extending lips 6, each comprising a recess 7. Endplates 8, 9 are provided on the connecting portion 4 and the opposing walls. One of the endplates 9 provides a tab 10 with a hole 11. A tip 12 is also provided upon the connecting portion 4, extending outwards beyond the endplates 8.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a side view of the exemplary device of Figure 1. The opposing surfaces of the first and second opposing walls 2, 3 and the inner surface of the connecting portion 4 define a channel 13. Also shown are first and second inner projections 14, 15 provided on the channel-side surfaces of the walls 2, 3 and connecting portion 4. The projections 14 and 15 may be in the form of ribs 14 and 15 as shown, corresponding to, or mirroring, the ribs 5 on the external surfaces. There may be more or fewer of the internal projections 14, 15 than there are ribs 5, and they may be in different locations.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically a bottom perspective view of the exemplary device of Figure 1. The lips 6 extend from the walls 2 and 3 and form an abutment portion 16.

The device 1 is provided with regions of increased flexibility 17, or 17 and 18, extending longitudinally along the device. The increased flexibility may be achieved by a reduced thickness of material in these regions, score lines, or other suitable means. In particular, the spine 17 of the connecting portion 4, may be in the form of a 'living hinge'.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a manipulation system 19 for hygienic operation of, for example, a door handle. The system comprises the device 1, and a device holder 20. The holder 20 comprises a cylindrical portion 21, configured to fit into the channel 13 of the device. The cylindrical portion is mounted upon a plate 22, provided with a loop 23 for attachment to a belt or the like. The plate 22 may be configured to cover the surfaces of the abutment portion 16. A retractable lanyard 24 is provided on the holder, one end of which is configured to attach to the device 1 by the hole 11 provided in the tab 10. The holder 20 includes a sterilisation surface 25 as an example of sanitisation means for killing or deactivating microorganisms on the portions of the device which contact the handle. Sterilisation may be provided, for example, by UV light, chemical contact, a desiccant, and/ or a surface coating.

As shown in Figure 5, during operation of a handle, the user holds the device 1 in the hand with the palm facing the connecting portion 4. The device 1 is placed onto, for example, a door handle such that the door handle is received within the channel 13. The walls 2, 3 and the connecting portion 4 form a physical barrier between the hand of the user and the door handle, therefore eliminating the transmission of microorganisms or substances from the handle to the user's hand. The handle is then gripped with the device, by applying pressure to the walls of the device with the fingers. The device is configured to flex about a central axis parallel of the channel in response to the inward pressure. This may be aided by the regions of increased flexibility 17, or 17 and 18. The flexion causes the first and second walls 2, 3 to move closer together, gripping the door handle in the channel 13 between the inner projections 14, 15. The user then operates the door handle to open the door, and releases the device from the handle.

In between uses, the device 1 may be fitted onto the holder 20, with the cylindrical portion 21 of the holder 20 being received into the channel 13 of the device 1. This allows for convenient and accessible storage of the device when not in use, and helps to minimize accidental transmission of microorganisms from the device 1 to the user or other objects. The device 1 and holder may be coupled by sliding the device down onto the cylindrical portion 21, or by snapping the cylindrical portion 21 into the channel laterally. Whilst fitted to the holder 20, the sanitizing means 25 may act upon the handle-contacting surfaces of the device 1 to kill, or inactivate microorganisms upon the surface.

By the combination of the device and holder, the user may have access to the device 1 at all times and does not need to retrieve a device 1 each time.

Whilst moving the device 1 between the door handle and the holder 20, the device 1 may be securely attached to the holder 20 by the retractable lanyard 24 of the holder 20, anchored to the device 1 by the hole 11 of the tab 10. This prevents accidental dropping of the device 1, which may contaminate the portion of the device held by the user's hand.

The device 1 may be provided with lips 6, to further shield the fingertips of the user from accidentally coming into contact with the door handle whilst placing the device on the handle. The lips also prevent the fingertips of the user from coming into contact with the body of the door during operation, thus also preventing microbial transmission via the door body. The lips 6 may each be provided with a recess 7 to accommodate the user's thumb, improving the ergonomics of the device. The recesses 7 on each of the lips may be provided upon the same side of the device, thus allowing for the thumb of the user to be accommodated whilst opening doors with the right or the left-hand, depending upon the orientation of the device.

The abutment portion 16, may be conveniently used to open doors having a 'push plate rather than a handle (Figure 6). Such push plates can also be unhygienic for the same reason as handles. The abutment portion may include projections or ribs so as to reduce the contact surface area between the device 1 and the push plate or other surface against which the device is used to push.

External ribs 5 may be provided to improve the grip of the user on the device. The gap between the ribs 5 may be optimised for the fingers of the user to be located in between the ribs 5 End plates 8, 9 may be provided to ensure that the user's hand is located such that it is fully shielded from the door and the door handle by the device 1 during use. The endplates 8, 9 encourage the user to place his or her hand in the middle of the device, such that the device 1 is fully between the door handle and the user's hand. The endplates 8, 9 also shield the user's hand from coming into contact with the stalks or returns of the door handle, i.e. portions of the door handle normal to the door body. The end-plates 8, 9 may be formed from separate projections, with a gap in between each. The gap mitigates the reduction the flexion caused by the reinforcing effect of the endplates. The gaps may be aligned with the longitudinal regions of increased flexibility 17, or 17 and 18.

As shown clearly in Figure 7, the connecting portion 4 may extend further in the longitudinal direction than the walls of the device 1. This allows for the connecting portion 4 to support the widest part of the user's hand, i.e. the palm, whilst at the same time, saving raw material from where less width is required to provide a barrier for the fingers, reducing the overall size of the device 1. The small size of the device allows for improved manoeuvrability, and may allow the device to fit easily into bags or into pockets, for example standard lab coat pockets.

The device 1 may also be configured to allow the user to operate a touchscreen whilst avoiding direct contact between the user's hand and the screen. To facilitate this, a dedicated touchscreen operating projection may be provided upon an outer surface of the device 1, for example the tip 12. Alternatively, a pre-existing feature of the device may be configured to be suited for the purpose of operating a touchscreen, for example, the thumb recesses 7. These projections may be optimised to operate a touchscreen, for example by having rounded ends with a small surface area. For resistive-type touchscreens, pressure alone is required to make an input. However, to operate capacitive touchscreens, the screen must be in conductive communication with the user's skin. Therefore, a portion of the device, for example a projection as previously described such as the tip 12, may comprise a conductive material to allow for electrical conduction between the user's hand and a capacitive touchscreen. This may be achieved by a piece of conductive material extending from the outer face of the device around the edge of the device to an inner face of the device to contact the user's finger. Alternatively, the material of the device or a suitable portion of the device can be made conductive to provide the necessary conduction.

The above mentioned sanitisafion means 25, which may be provided within the holder, may be an ultra-violet (UV) light emitter, such as a UV LED, configured to irradiate the inner projections of the device with ultra-violet (UV) light whilst fitted to the device. This may be powered and controlled by batteries and circuit boards internal to the holder. The emitter may be configured to emit light automatically upon docking of the device to the holder. For the UV light to reach the handle-contacting surfaces of the device, the emitter may be contained within the portion 21 of the holder configured to be received into the channel of the device, with said portion comprising slots or UV transparent regions. Alternatively, the portion 21 of the holder configured to be received into the channel of the device may have an anti-microbial surface coating, such as copper or silver-based coatings. Further still, said portion of the holder may comprise antimicrobial chemicals. These may be contained inside the holder, which may comprise porous regions to allow the antimicrobial chemicals to be substantially continuously released to contact the desired regions of the device. Instead of antimicrobial agents, a desiccant may be used to reduce the humidity around the inner contact surfaces to a level hostile to microorganisms, for example 10% relative humidity or less. Similar sanitisation means 25 may also be provided upon the plate 25, to sanitise or sterilise the abutment portion 16.

The holder and the device may be formed as single integral pieces, for example by injection moulding or 3D printing. Suitable materials for single-piece construction may be polymers such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or elastomers such as hard grade elastomers, for example those with a hardness of 50 Shore or more, or even 90 Shore or more. Alternatively, certain elements of the device or holder may be produced from different materials. For example, to reduce the likelihood of the device slipping from the handle, for example in the lateral direction when a lever handle is being lowered, the projections 14, 15 may be formed from a softer, reduced-slip material such as a rubber elastomer. Such a material may also be used for the external ribs 5 for the comfort and grip of the user. Therefore, the device may be produced using a two-part moulding, for example with rubber elastomer features provided on top of a harder polymer substrate. In order to reduce the presence of viable microorganisms on the device or holder, one or more elements may comprise an antimicrobial additive or coating, such as copper or silver-based coatings.

The present disclosure provides a means for operating door handles in a hygienic manner, using a convenient and reusable device. The device as described is suitable for operating different types of door handle, for example both pull handles (Figure 5) and lever handles (Figure 8), as well as for operating flat push door panels (Figure 6).

The ability of the device to flex also allows for the device to securely grip door handles with different cross-sectional diameters. The device is also compatible with door handles having varying cross-sectional diameters. The device may also be compatible with some door knobs. In addition to doors, the device may also be of particular use for holding onto bannisters or other supports, for example those found in public transport systems, on buses or subways and the like, whilst preventing direct contact between the user's hand and the surface. The device may be adapted to fit various standard sizes and shapes for handles, bannisters or other rails and the like. The dimensions of the device are not especially limited, but may be for example, approximately 60 to 140, optionally 80 to 120mm, for example 100mm in the longitudinal direction; 50 to 90, optionally 60 to 80, for example 70mm in width; and 40 to 60, optionally 45 to 55, for example 50mm in height.

A further effect of the device is to reduce the surface area of contact with, for example, door handles or push plates during use. Owing to projections of the channel-side of the device and on the abutment portion in particular, the surface area of the device which is in contact with the a particular surface, such as a door handle, is greatly reduced in comparison to the surface area of contact between a hand and the surface during normal use. Therefore the device protects from direct transfer of microorganisms to the user's hand, but also reduces the total amount of transfer from surface to surface.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A hand held manipulating device for preventing contact between a user's hand and an object being manipulated, the device comprising: first and second opposing walls connected by a connecting portion; wherein the connecting portion and opposing surfaces of the first and second opposing walls define a channel, and wherein the edges of the first and second opposing walls opposite to the connecting portion form outwardly extending lips.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the lips provide an abutment portion for pushing against a manipulated object.
3. The device of claim 2, further comprising projections provided upon the abutment portion.
4. The device of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the connecting portion is curved.
5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is configured to flex about a longitudinal axis of the device.
6. The device of claim 5, further comprising at least one region of increased flexibility extending longitudinally along the device.
7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising projections provided on inner surfaces of the channel.
8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising endplates provided upon the shared edges of the connecting portion and the first and second opposing walls.
9. The device of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a tip configured to operate a touchscreen.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the tip configured to operate a touchscreen comprises an electrically conductive region.
11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising ribs provided on the outer surfaces of the connecting portion and first and second opposing walls.
12. The device of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least a portion of the device comprises an antimicrobial additive and / or coating.
13. A manipulating system, comprising: the device of any one preceding claim; and a holder; wherein said holder comprises: a portion configured to fit into the channel of the device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the holder further comprises a means for attaching the holder to a support.
15. The system of claim 13 or 14, wherein at least a portion of the holder comprises an antimicrobial additive and / or coating.
16. The system of any one of claims 13, 14 or 15, wherein the holder further comprises: sanitisation means, configured to sanitise or sterilise inner surfaces of the channel.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sanitisation means comprises: an ultra-violet light emitter, configured to irradiate the inner surfaces of the channel.
18. The system of claim 16 or 17, wherein the sanitisation means comprises: an antimicrobial chemical and / or a desiccant, wherein the antimicrobial chemical and / or desiccant is releasably contained within the portion of the holder configured to fit into the channel of the device.
19. The system of any one of claims 13 or to 18, wherein the holder further comprises: a retractable lanyard, wherein the device is configured to attach to said retractable lanyard.