GB2594992A

GB2594992A - Cover

Info

Publication number: GB2594992A
Application number: GB2007209.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robbins Natalie
Original assignee: Word And Gifts Ltd
Current assignee: Word And Gifts Ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-15
Filing date: 2020-05-15
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Also published as: GB202007209D0

Abstract

Provided is a cover 10 suitable for covering a handle of a shopping basket or trolley. The cover comprises a cylindrical body 12 with a slot 22 in which a handle can be received; and two arms 14, 16 positioned on opposite sides of the slot 22 that extend from the body 12. The cover 10, which may have a mushroom-shaped profile, can be made from an anti-pathogenic material such as silver; and have ribs 27 extending around its outer surface 24, with the purpose of improving user grip. The arms 14, 16 may have openings 36, 46 for receiving a user’s hand. The arms 14, 16 may need to be prised away from each other to allow a handle to be received in the portion of the slot 22 in the body 12.

Description

The present invention is concerned with a cover. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a cover to prevent the transmission of pathogens from handles, for example handles on shopping trolleys and baskets.

It is known that the handles of shopping trolleys, or carts, and baskets, which are touched by the hands of many users per day, are contaminated with pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. It has been estimated, for example, that a supermarket shopping trolley handle has almost 400 times more bacteria present on its surface than the door handle for a toilet.

GB2501543 describes a device which seeks to improve the hygiene of shopping trolleys. The device is a cylindrical enclosure which can be used to loosely envelope the handles of a shopping trolley, a shopping basket or shopping bags. External ribs, which extend along the length of the enclosure, are provided to help a user grip the enclosure. Internal ribs may also be provided to prevent the enclosure from rotating when installed on a handle.

Once installed on the handles of a shopping trolley, such devices are difficult to remove without the need for a user to hold part of the shopping trolley. This clearly defeats the purpose of such devices protecting a user from the pathogens present on a shopping trolley.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cover for a handle, the cover comprising: a generally cylindrical body having a slot that is configured to receive a handle; a first arm that extends from the body; and, a second arm that extends from the body; wherein the first and second arms are positioned on opposing sides of the slot.

The first and second arms advantageously enable the cover to be easily placed onto and removed from the handle, for example of a shopping trolley or basket, without the need to touch the handle itself, or other parts of the trolley or basket, which may be contaminated with pathogens.

The generally cylindrical body has a first end and a second end. The first and second arms may extend between the first and second ends of the generally cylindrical body. The first arm and / or the second arm may include an opening that is configured to receive a user's hand.

The arrangement of the first and second arms advantageously allows the cover to be used to cover the handles of a shopping basket, whilst a user carries the shopping basket. In this way, a user does not need to touch the shopping basket itself and so contact with any pathogens on the surface of the basket is minimised.

The cover may have an internal surface, the internal surface of the cover having: a first inner portion that is defined by a surface of the slot; a second inner portion that is defined by an inner surface of the first arm; and, a third inner portion that is defined by an inner surface of the second arm. The first inner portion may be arcuate. Additionally, or alternatively, the second inner portion and / or the third inner portion may be planar.

The first inner portion of the internal surface of the cover may have a diameter. The second and third inner portions may be separated by a distance. The diameter of the first inner portion may be greater than the distance between the second and third inner portions.

The cover may have an outer surface, the outer surface of the cover having: a first outer portion that is defined by an outer surface of the generally cylindrical body; a second outer portion that is defined by an outer surface of the first arm; and, a third outer portion that is defined by an outer surface of the second arm. The first outer portion is generally ovoid. Additionally, or alternatively, the second outer portion and / or the third outer portion may be planar.

The cover may have a side profile that is mushroom-shaped.

The cover is advantageously shaped such that it can be fastened securely to the handle of a shopping trolley such that it cannot be rotated around the shopping trolley handle when the shopping trolley is in use. In this way, a user of the shopping trolley is prevented from accidentally touching the handle of the shopping trolley and contact with any pathogens present on the surface of the handle is minimised.

The shape of the cover also enables it to be removed from the trolley handle when the trolley is no longer required without the need for a user to touch the trolley handle or other parts of the shopping trolley. This further reduces the risk of a user coming into contact with pathogens on the surface of a shopping trolley.

The generally cylindrical body may include a plurality of ribs. The generally cylindrical body may have an outer surface. Each rib of the plurality of ribs may extends around the outer surface of the generally cylindrical body. Additionally, or alternatively, each rib of the plurality of ribs may be generally ovoid in cross section.

The ribs help a user to grip the cover, when it is being placed on the handles of a shopping trolley, and when a user is pushing a shopping trolley on which the cover has been installed.

The cover may include an anti-pathogenic material. One or more parts of the cover, for example the generally cylindrical body, the ribs of the generally cylindrical body, the first arm and / or the second arm of the cover may include an anti-pathogenic material. The anti-pathogenic material may be silver.

In this way, the cover provides further protection against infection of a user by pathogens present on a handle of, for example, a shopping trolley or basket by acting against, for example killing, bacteria and other pathogens present on the surface of the handle.

An example according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a cover according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the cover of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the cover of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the cover of Figure 1; and Figure S is a bottom perspective view of the cover of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures, there is a cover 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cover 10 has a body 12, a first arm 14 and a second arm 16.

The body 12 is generally cylindrical, has a first end 18 and a second end 20. The body 12 is hollow and has a slot 22, which extends between the first end 18 and the second end 20. The body 12 also has a generally ovoid outer surface 24 and an arcuate inner surface 26.

The body 12 includes a plurality of generally ovoid ribs 27.

The first arm 14 has a first end 28, a second end 30, a planar outer surface 32 and a planar inner surface 34. The first arm 14 also has an opening 36.

Similarly, the second arm 16 has a first end 38, a second end 40, a planar outer surface 42 and a planar inner surface 44. The second arm 16 also has an opening 46.

The cover 10 is manufactured as a single piece from a polymeric material, for example, by injection moulding of a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. The polymeric material may be impregnated with an anti-pathogenic material, for example silver.

The moulding process allows the generally ovoid ribs 27 of the body 12 to be moulded around the outer surface 24 of the body 12. Each of the generally ovoid ribs 27 therefore extends around the outer circumference of the body 12 in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cover 10.

The first arm 14 is moulded to extend from one side of the slot 22 and the second arm 16 is moulded to extend from a second, opposing, side of the slot 22. The first and second arms 14, 16 are thereby separated by a distance A, as shown in Figure 2. As also shown in Figure 2, the slot 22 has a diameter B, which is greater than the distance A between the first arm 14 and the second arm 16. This arrangement facilitates the secure, push-fit, fastening of the cover 10 to a handle.

Each of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 extends between the first and second ends 18, 20 of the body 12. In this way, the first end 28 of the first arm 14 and the first end 38 of the second arm 16 are both proximal to the first end 18 of the body 12 and the second end 30 of the first arm 14 and the second end 40 of the second arm are both proximal to the second end 20 of the body 12. The arrangement of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 on the cover 10 enables the cover 10 to be easily removed from a handle without the need for a user to grasp the handle or the item to which the handle is mounted.

The moulded cover 10 has an internal surface which has a first inner portion which is defined by the arcuate inner surface 26 of the body 12, a second inner portion which is defined by the planar inner surface 34 of the first arm 14 and a third inner portion which is defined by the planar inner surface 44 of the second arm 16.

The moulded cover 10 also has an external surface which has a first outer portion which is defined by the generally ovoid outer surface 24 of the body 12, a second outer portion which is defined by the planar outer surface 32 of the first arm 14 and a third outer portion which is defined by the planar outer surface 42 of the second arm 16.

The side profile, or cross section, of the cover 10 is thus mushroom-shaped. This shape advantageously enables the cover 10 to be fastened securely to the handle of a shopping trolley such that the cover 10 cannot be rotated around the shopping trolley handle when the shopping trolley is in use. In this way, a user of the shopping trolley is prevented from accidentally touching the handle of the shopping trolley and contact with any pathogens present on the surface of the handle is minimised.

The shape of the cover also enables the cover 10 to be removed from the trolley handle when the trolley is no longer required without the need for a user to touch the trolley handle or other parts of the shopping trolley. This further reduces the risk of a user contacting pathogens on the surface of a shopping trolley.

Exemplary uses of a cover 10 according to the present invention will now be described.

In a first example, the cover 10 is used to cover the handle of a shopping trolley in order to prevent a user of the shopping trolley from contacting any pathogens which may be present on the surface of the shopping trolley.

In this example, a user holds the cover 10 by the ribs 27 surrounding the body 12 and aligns the cover 10 with the handle of a shopping trolley such that the slot 22 is aligned with the handle, the first arm 14 of the cover is positioned adjacent to one side of the handle and the second arm 16 of the cover is positioned adjacent to a second, opposing, side of the handle. By pushing the cover 10 against the handle, the first and second arms 14, 16 separate sufficiently to allow the handle to be positioned within the slot 22.

When the shopping trolley is no longer required, the user can move either the first arm 14, or the second arm 16 away from the trolley handle and pull the cover 10 upwards in order to remove it from the trolley handle.

The cover 10 can then be stored in a pocket or bag until it is possible to clean the cover, either by hand or in a dishwasher.

In an alternative example, the cover 10 is used to cover the handles of a shopping basket in order to minimise a user's contact with any pathogens which may be present on the surface of the shopping basket.

In this example, a user holds the cover 10 in the orientation shown in Figure 5. The handles of the basket can then be passed through the gap between the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 until the basket handles are supported by the inner surface 26 of the body 12 of the cover 10. A user can carry the basket by placing a hand through the opening 36 of the first arm 14 and the opening 46 of the second arm 16.

When the shopping basket is no longer required, the user can place the basket in the designated stack of unused baskets, and simply move the cover 10 away from the basket handles.

It will be understood that the cover 10 could be used to cover other cylindrical items which may be contaminated with pathogens, for example door handles.

Variations may fall within the scope of the present invention.

In the described example, the body 12, ribs 27 and arms 14,16 of the cover 10 are moulded as a single component. It will be understood that, in other examples of the invention, the cover may be assembled from one or more components which are fitted or fastened together.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, there are 25 ribs on the body 12 of the cover 10. It will be understood that any number of ribs may be provided on the body of the cover.

Claims

Claims 1. A cover for a handle, the cover comprising: a generally cylindrical body having a slot that is configured to receive a handle; a first arm that extends from the body; and, a second arm that extends from the body; wherein the first and second arms are positioned on opposing sides of the slot.
2. A cover for a handle according to claim 1, wherein the generally cylindrical body has a first end and a second end and the first and second arms extend between the first and second ends of the generally cylindrical body.
3. A cover for a handle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first arm includes an opening that is configured to receive a user's hand.
4. A cover for a handle according to claim 3, wherein the second arm includes an opening that is configured to receive a user's hand.
5. A cover for a handle according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cover has an internal surface, the internal surface of the cover having: a first inner portion that is defined by a surface of the slot; a second inner portion that is defined by an inner surface of the first arm; and, a third inner portion that is defined by an inner surface of the second arm.
6. A cover for a handle according to claim 5, wherein the first inner portion is arcuate.
7. A cover for a handle according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the second inner portion is planar.
8. A cover for a handle according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the third inner portion is planar.
9. A cover for a handle according to claim 5, claim 6, claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first inner portion of the internal surface of the cover has a diameter and the second and third inner portions are separated by a distance, the diameter of the first inner portion being greater than the distance between the second and third inner portions.
10. A cover for a handle according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cover has an outer surface, the outer surface of the cover having: a first outer portion that is defined by an outer surface of the generally cylindrical body; a second outer portion that is defined by an outer surface of the first arm; and, a third outer portion that is defined by an outer surface of the second arm.
11. A cover for a handle according to claim 10, wherein the first outer portion is generally ovoid.
12. A cover for a handle according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the second outer portion is planar.
13. A cover for a handle according to claim 10, claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the third outer portion is planar.
14. A cover for a handle according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein cover has a side profile that is mushroom-shaped.
15. A cover for a handle according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the generally cylindrical body includes a plurality of ribs.
16. A cover for a handle according to claim 15, wherein the generally cylindrical body has an outer surface and each rib of the plurality of ribs extends around the outer surface of the generally cylindrical body.
17. A cover for a handle according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs is generally ovoid in cross section.
18. A cover for a handle according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the cover includes an anti-pathogenic material.