WO2021255543A1

WO2021255543A1 - Sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports

Info

Publication number: WO2021255543A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/054086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giangiacomo MOSSINI
Original assignee: MOSSINI, Antonio
Priority date: 2020-06-15
Filing date: 2021-05-13
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Also published as: IT202000014161A1

Abstract

A sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports, comprising: an annular body (3) configured to be associated around a cylindrical surface to be sanitized (2), said annular body (3) defining an inner cylindrical surface (4) facing the surface to be sanitized (2) and an outer cylindrical surface (5) configured to be handled by a user; movement means (6) arranged at said inner surface (4) to allow said annular body (3) to slide and guide along a straight direction coinciding with the longitudinal extension of the surface to be sanitized (2); and a dispensing member (7) of a sanitizing agent (8) engaged in the inner cylindrical surface (4) of the annular body (3) and configured to direct said agent (8) towards the surface to be sanitized (2).

Description

SANITIZING DEVICE FOR HANDLES, HANDRAILS AND SUPPORTS

The present invention relates to a sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports.

In particular, the present invention relates to a device for sanitizing any structure in the form of a cylindrical bar and arranged to be gripped by one or more users, such as the handle of a cart, the handrail near stairs or the support structures located in public transport means.

As is known, such cylindrical structures are intended for shared use and, precisely for the public use thereof, are subject to the uncontrolled spread of infectious agents. In this context, the areas of greatest complexity in the sanitization of contact surfaces are those where the daily influx of people using the services is such as to complicate constant and effective sanitization.

A typical example is the shopping carts used in supermarkets, which are made available to the public in the car parks or at the entrance of the respective markets.

Each cart is provided with a horizontal handle made in the form of a cylindrical bar with circular section. The handle is of suitable size to be gripped by the hands of the user, who thereby moves and directs the cart. In this situation, the handle is a shared element among the users of the cart and, to avoid contact with infectious agents, it must be sanitized frequently depending on the number of accesses to the supermarket. Another example of the spread of infectious agents is that of the handles and supports present in public transport.

Also in this case, the handles consist of circular cylindrical elements which are arranged horizontally or vertically to be easily accessible to users.

Furthermore, also in this case the widespread passage of people inside the public transport and the movement thereof inside the public transport itself requires frequent sanitization of all the handles present in the transport means. The sanitization activities of publicly accessible handles is typically carried out during times of non-operation and, with regard to carts, during the closure of commercial activities.

Thereby, in the absence of the public, the sanitization of the environments is carried out by means of the distribution of liquid chemicals appropriately provided for the elimination of infectious agents which are the cause of bacterial and virological transmission.

However, such sanitization actions are not able to eliminate the risk of contagion between subjects. In fact, it should be noted that, during the period of use of the carts or access to the public transport, the handles are gripped by a large number of people and can be contaminated, spreading infectivity before the subsequent sanitization of the handles.

Such a disadvantage is also aggravated in the context of the health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which implies the constant cleaning and sanitization of areas and surfaces of common use as a preventive measure to the spread of the disease.

To overcome the drawback described above, the use of personal protective systems, such as gloves, or a preventive sanitization of hands using sanitizing gel substances is required.

However, this solution also entails the additional disadvantage linked to the excessive consumption of such sanitizing substances as well as protective gloves with consequent environmental and economic problems. Moreover, since personal protection is the responsibility of individuals, the constant maintenance of prevention and sanitization measures cannot be ensured.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports capable of ensuring an effective sanitization before each single use.

In greater detail, it is an object of the present invention to propose a device which allows the user to sanitize the surface before touching it with his own hands.

It is an additional object of the present invention to propose a sanitizing device which can be implemented by the same subject who uses the handle, so as to ensure the sanitization of the surface thereto.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitizing device which is structurally simple, easy and intuitive to use, and inexpensive.

The technical task mentioned and the objects stated are substantially achieved by a device for sanitizing handles, handrails and supports, comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims.

According to the present invention, a sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports is shown comprising an annular body configured to be associated around a cylindrical surface to be sanitized. The annular body defines an inner cylindrical surface facing the surface to be sanitized and an outer cylindrical surface configured to be handled by a user.

The device has movement means arranged at the inner surface to allow the annular body to slide and guide along a straight direction coinciding with the longitudinal extension of the surface to be sanitized. Advantageously, a dispensing member of a sanitizing agent is engaged on the inner cylindrical surface of the annular body and configured to direct the agent towards the surface to be sanitized.

Preferably, the sanitizing agent is a light radiation, in particular a UV-C ray. Additionally or alternatively, the sanitizing agent is an alcohol-based liquid or gel substance.

The dependent claims, included here for reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of an exemplary, but not exclusive, and therefore non-limiting preferred embodiment of a sanitizing device, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective depiction of the device according to the present invention associated with a cylindrical bar which must be sanitized; and

- figure 2 shows a transverse sectional and elevated side view of the device of figure 1 ; and

- figure 3 shows a sectional view of the device of figure 2 in accordance with a further embodiment according to the present invention.

In the accompanying figures the reference numeral 1 overall indicates a sanitizing device, which is referred to in the following description simply as device 1.

As schematically illustrated in figure 1 , the device 1 is associated with a cylindrical surface 2 to be sanitized, such as a handle, a handrail or a support bar. In fact, the device finds advantageous application for sanitizing any element which has a substantially cylindrical structure and is configured to be gripped by a series of users.

The device 1 comprises an annular body 3 adapted to be associated (fitted) around the aforementioned surface to be sanitized 2.

As better illustrated in figure 2, the annular body 3 defines an inner cylindrical surface 4 facing the surface to be sanitized 2 and an outer cylindrical surface 5 configured to be handled by a user.

Preferably, the annular body 3 is stably engaged to the cylindrical surface 2 so as to be able to slide along the longitudinal extension of the surface 2 itself without being removed therefrom. For this purpose, an anchoring element (not illustrated in the figures) can be provided, such as a strap in flexible material or an elastic string, configured to allow the body 3 to slide while still keeping it always associated with the respective surface 2. With reference to figures 2 and 3, it should be noted that the inner surface 4 has movement means 6 adapted to allow the annular body 3 to slide and guide along a straight direction coinciding with the longitudinal extension of the surface to be sanitized 2.

Preferably, the annular body 3 is slid along the cylindrical surface 2 according to a straight motion and back and forth.

Further, the inner cylindrical surface also has a member 7 which dispenses and directs a sanitizing agent 8 towards the surface to be sanitized 2.

In accordance with a first embodiment, the sanitizing agent 8 is a light radiation.

In this case, the dispensing member 7 comprises at least one light source 9, preferably a LED lamp, to emit a respective ultraviolet ray, preferably a UV-C ray with a wavelength range between 280-100 nm.

Advantageously, a series of LED lamps are provided, located along the circumferential path defined by the inner surface 4 so as to hit the entire surface to be sanitized 2 with a series of UV-C rays. The ultraviolet rays of wavelength comprised in the UV-C spectrum typically have germicidal properties and are therefore capable of eliminating any infectivity on the surface 2 to be sanitized.

In addition or as an alternative to light radiation, the sanitizing agent 8 can be a liquid or gel substance.

In this case, the dispensing member 7 comprises at least one distribution source 10 of the liquid or gel substance, preferably alcohol-based. In order to effectively and homogeneously distribute the substance on the surface 2, the distribution source 10 comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged along a circumferential path defined by the inner surface 4 and configured to distribute the substance.

It should be specified that, according to a preferred embodiment (illustrated in the accompanying figures), the device 1 comprises LED lamps alternated with the nozzles. Thereby, both the alcohol-based liquid sanitizing substance and the UV-C rays with germicidal action are distributed.

Thereby, the device can effectively and homogeneously sanitize the surface 2.

However, even only the LED lamps or only the nozzles for distributing the substance can be provided as a function of the specific manufacturing and use needs.

Furthermore, the outer cylindrical surface 5 can be provided with cavities 5a for housing the user's fingers for sliding the annular body 3 along the surface to be sanitized 2. In this situation, the dispensing member 7 of the sanitizing agent 8 can also be housed in the cavities 5a to also sanitize the area in contact with the user's hand.

In accordance with the solution shown in figure 2, the movement means 6 comprise a plurality of ball elements 11 rotatably arranged on the inner cylindrical surface 4. The ball elements 11 are abutted to the surface to be sanitized 2 to roll thereon during the sliding of the annular body. Alternatively, as illustrated in figure 3, the movement means 6 can consist of a plurality of contact elements 12 abutted to the surface to be sanitized 2 and configured to slide on the same surface to be sanitized 2.

In this case, the contact elements 12 are made of piezoelectric material to generate an electric current as a result of the sliding thereof on the surface to be sanitized 2.

Advantageously, the elements 12 are suitably connected to the dispensing member 7 in order to supply the member 7 itself and thus allow the dispensing of the sanitizing agent 8.

Similarly, in the case of the solution of figure 2, an electric generator is included which is suitably associated with the ball elements 11 which, as a result of their rolling, generate a supply current to the dispensing member 7 of the sanitizing agent 8. In this case, the ball elements can define the rotor of respective electrical alternators which supply said dispensing member 7. Consequently, the sliding of the annular body along the surface to be sanitized also allows the production of the electrical current necessary for the operation of the LED lamps or the dispensing nozzles of the substance. The electrical management and connection components for the distribution of electrical energy are only briefly illustrated in the attached figures since they are of known type.

According to a further embodiment not illustrated, an electric power supply battery of the aforementioned dispensing member 7 can also be included. The present invention has numerous advantages and solves the problems of the prior art.

In fact, the sanitizing device 1 ensures effective sanitization for handles, handrails or any type of support in cylindrical form, before each single use. Such an efficacy is due to the combined action of the sanitizing agent 8 which can be a UV-C ray and/or an alcohol-based substance. The device 1 is also particularly easy to use as the user, before grasping the handle, simply provides for the axial sliding of the annular body 3 with the consequent dispensing of the sanitizing agent 8.

Thereby, the effective sanitization of the handle before each use is ensured. The device 1 is also structurally simple and capable of self-supply by means of the action of the sliding means 6 which are capable of producing sufficient current for dispensing the agent 8.

Claims

1. Sanitizing device for handles, handrails and supports, characterized in that it comprises:

- an annular body (3) configured to be associated around a cylindrical surface to be sanitized (2), said annular body (3) defining an inner cylindrical surface (4) facing the surface to be sanitized (2) and an outer cylindrical surface (5) configured to be handled by a user;

- movement means (6) arranged at said inner surface (4) to allow said annular body (3) to slide and guide along a straight direction coinciding with the longitudinal extension of the surface to be sanitized (2); and

- a dispensing member (7) of a sanitizing agent (8) engaged in the inner cylindrical surface (4) of the annular body (3) and configured to direct said agent (8) towards the surface to be sanitized (2).

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said sanitizing agent (8) is a light radiation.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said sanitizing agent (8) is a liquid or gel substance.

4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said dispensing member (7) comprises at least one light source (9) and in that said radiation is an ultraviolet ray.

5. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said light source (9) is a LED lamp for emitting a UV-C ray with a wavelength range between 280-100 nm.

6. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said dispensing member (7) comprises at least one distribution source (10) of the liquid or gel substance and in that said substance is alcohol-based.

7. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said distribution source (10) is a nozzle configured to distribute the substance on the surface to be sanitized.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (6) comprise a plurality of ball elements (11) rotatably associated on the inner cylindrical surface (4) for rolling on the surface to be sanitized (2).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said movement means (6) comprise a plurality of contact elements (12) abutted to the surface to be sanitized (2) for sliding on the same surface to be sanitized (2).

10. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said contact elements (12) are made of piezoelectric material to generate a supply current to said dispensing member (7) of the sanitizing agent (8).

11. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises an electric generator associated with said ball elements (11) to generate a supply current to said dispensing member (7) of the sanitizing agent (8).

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said outer cylindrical surface (5) comprises cavities (5a) for housing the user's fingers for sliding the annular body (3) along the surface to be sanitized (2); said dispensing member (7) of the sanitizing agent (8) also being housed in said cavities (5a).