Door Handle dispenser for sanitizing liquids

• US 20060245818A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clyde H. Boyer
• Original Assignee: Nottingham Spirk Design Associates
• Inventors: Soreo, Robert, Stropkay, Edward J., Kalman, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/207
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence

Abstract

A door handle and liquid dispensing apparatus includes a housing configured to attach to an associated door and a porous material. The housing at least partially defines a reservoir configured to hold a liquid for cleaning a person'"'"'s hand when the person opens the associated door. The porous material is disposed in and extends from the reservoir. A portion of the porous material is disposed adjacent a location typically touched by the person'"'"'s hand when opening the associate door.

Claims

1. A door handle and liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to attach to an associated door, the housing at least partially defining a reservoir configured to hold a liquid for cleaning a person'"'"'s hands; and

a porous material disposed in and extending from the reservoir, a portion of the porous material being disposed adjacent a location typically touched by the person'"'"'s hand when opening the associated door.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a push plate connected to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing and the push plate cooperate with one another such that the push plate connects to the housing at a first operating position and a second operating postion, when in the first operating position the push plate provides a contact surface against which the person opening the associated door presses against when opening the door

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the porous material is disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the push plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to the housing, the handle being configured to be grasped by the person when opening the associated door.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the porous material is disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the handle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bottle piericing member connected to the housing for piercing a sealed bottle containing hand cleaning liquid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protective member connected to the frame and disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the porous material, the protective member including openings through which a liquid may pass from the porous material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the protective member comprises a metal screen or a plastic screen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bottle having a sealed cap that is configured to be pierced, the bottle being disposed in the housing.

11. A method for providing a hand cleaning liquid to a person, the method comprising placing a container of hand cleaning liquid into a door handle assembly, the door handle assembly including a mounting member configured to attach to a door, a hand grasping or pushing section connected to the mounting member and wicking material in fluid communication with the container of hand cleaning liquid and the hand contact section, whereby hand cleaning liquid from the container travels towards the hand grasping or pushing section via the wicking material.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising instructing the person to grasp or to push the hand contact section.

13. A door handle liquid dispensing assembly comprising:

a hand contact section configured to be grasped or pushed as a person opens an associated door;

a mounting member connected to the hand contact section, the mounting member being configured to mount to the associated door;

a reservoir connected to at least one of the hand contact section and the mounting member, the reservoir being configured to hold a cleaning liquid for cleaning a person'"'"'s hands; and

a fluid path in fluid communication with the reservoir and the hand contact section for delivering cleaning liquid from the reservoir towards the hand contact section.

14. The door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein the fluid path comprises a porous material.

15. The door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein the fluid path comprises a wicking material.

16. The door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein the hand contact section comprises a push plate.

17. The door handle assembly of claim 16, further comprising a handle bar.

18. The door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein the mounting member is configured to receive a container of hand cleaner.

19. The door handle assembly of claim 18, further comprising a container piercing member connected to the mounting member.

20. The door handle of claim 13, further comprising a sealed container of hand cleaner in fluid communication with the reservoir.