SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING HAND HYGIENE

• US 20090265990A1
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Hygiene Systems
• Original Assignee: Hand Hygiene Systems
• Inventors: Stratmann, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/31
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/75 responsive to the weight or other physical contact of a person or object
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use E05Y2400/51, E05Y2400/522 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/112 for restrooms

Abstract

The invention relates generally to the field of hand sanitation, and particularly to a systems that encourage or compel the use of a hand sanitizer in order to open or unlock a door, unlock an access panel or drawer, or use a shared electronic device.

Claims

1. A door opening system comprising:

a) a hand sanitizer dispensing unit that dispenses a hand sanitizer upon activation;

b) a door with a door opening device;

c) an electrical, mechanical, or wireless signal connection between said hand sanitizer dispensing unit and said door opening device; and

d) a manual override device,

wherein said hand sanitizer dispensing unit transmits an activation signal to said door opening device upon activation, wherein said door opening device opens said door upon receipt of said activation signal, and wherein use of said manual override device allows bidirectional movement of said door independent of said activation of said hand sanitizer dispensing unit.

2. The door opening system of claim 1, further comprising:

e) a locking device that prevents movement of said door in the absence of said activation signal, wherein said locking device unlocks upon receipt of said activation signal.

3. The system of claims 1 or 2, wherein said hand sanitizer comprises a chemical or radiological sanitizer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said chemical sanitizer is ethanol.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said chemical sanitizer is chlorhexidine.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said chemical hand sanitizer is applied with a towel, towelette, or hand wipe.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said chemical hand sanitizer further comprises an emollient.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said radiological sanitizer is ultraviolet light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said hand sanitizer dispensing unit dispenses an emollient instead of said hand sanitizer at random or prescribed intervals.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said door opening device comprises an automatic door opener.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said manual override device comprises a handle, knob, button, push pad, bar, or lever.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said manual override device can be used to allow movement of said door in the absence of said activation signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless signal connection comprises a radio or infrared connection.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said door is a single, double, revolving, sliding, overhead, or elevator door.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said hand sanitizer dispensing unit is mounted on said door.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said door is located in a hospital, medical facility, nursing home, school, daycare center, library, museum, public meeting or working space, retail store, grocery store, restaurant, cafeteria, kitchen, food production or processing facility, public transportation station, or public transit vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said door is located in a hospital.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said door is located in a hospital emergency room (ER), intensive care unit (ICU), operating room (OR), surgical preparation room, patient room, outpatient facility, birthing room, pharmacy, cafeteria, restroom, elevator bank, or waiting room.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said door separates medical caregivers from medical patients.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said caregivers comprise physicians, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists, or medical students.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said door is located in an airport, train station, subway station, or bus station.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said door is located in an airplane, a train, a subway train, a bus, or boat.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said boat is a passenger cruise ship.

24. The system of any one of claims 1-3, further comprising instructions for the use of said hand sanitizer dispensing unit, door opening device, manual override device, or locking device.

25. An access system for reducing the spread of infectious microbes comprising:

a) a hand sanitizer dispensing unit that dispenses a hand sanitizer upon activation;

b) an enclosed storage area comprising an access door, panel, or drawer;

a locking device; and

c) an electrical, mechanical, or wireless signal connection between said hand sanitizer dispensing unit and said locking device,

wherein said hand sanitizer dispensing unit transmits an activation signal to said locking device upon activation, wherein said locking device prevents movement of said access door, panel, or drawer in the absence of said activation signal, and wherein said locking device unlocks upon receipt of said activation signal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said access door, panel, or drawer is located on a cabinet, closet, locker, or cart.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said cabinet, closet, locker, or cart is used to store medical supplies or medicaments.

28. A shared electronic device system for reducing the spread of infectious microbes comprising:

a) a hand sanitizer dispensing unit that dispenses a hand sanitizer upon activation;

b) a shared electronic device; and

c) an electrical, mechanical, or wireless signal connection between said hand sanitizer dispensing unit and said shared electronic device,

wherein said hand sanitizer dispensing unit transmits an activation signal to said shared electronic device upon activation, and wherein said shared electronic device is rendered operable upon receipt of said activation signal.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said shared electronic device is a computer, telephone, copying machine, fax machine, or scanner.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said shared electronic device is a public telephone.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

d) a manual override device that allows use of the shared electronic device independent of activation of said hand sanitizer dispensing unit.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said means comprises a biometric reader, alphanumeric keyboard, computer mouse, or identification card reader.