DOOR HANDLE

• US 20130279966A1
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Hold Limited
• Original Assignee: Pure Hold Limited
• Inventors: Meeks, Alan Michael George, Roberts, Matthew Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,376,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0056 Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20

Abstract

A door handle (1) is described. The door handle (1) is adapted to apply liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user'"'"'s hand. The handle (1) comprises a handle grip (2) and a liquid/gel reservoir (6) associated with the handle (1). A liquid/gel displacement device is arranged in the grip (2) and a non-return valve (53) is provided to allow liquid/gel to flow from the reservoir (6) to the displacement device. A hollow trigger (8) is displaceably mounted on the grip (2) and adapted to actuate the displacement device when the handle (1) is gripped for displacement of liquid/gel from the displacement device, into the trigger (8) and thence on to a hand or its digits gripping the trigger (8).

Claims

1. A door handle adapted to apply liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user'"'"'s hand, the handle comprising:

a handle grip;

a liquid/gel reservoir associated with the handle;

a liquid/gel displacement device in the grip; and

a hollow trigger displaceably mounted on the grip and adapted to actuate the displacement device when the handle is gripped for displacement of liquid/gel from the device, into the trigger and thence on to a hand or its digits gripping the trigger.

2. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is arranged in use below the displacement device, with the liquid/gel being sucked up from it.

3. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the use position of the reservoir is above the grip with gravity assisting or causing the liquid/gel to flow down.

4. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is a piston and cylinder device.

5. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is a diaphragm and chamber device.

6. The door handle of claim 4, wherein the displacement device has a return spring for the cylinder and the trigger.

7. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is a resilient device of elastomeric material adapted to return from its shape after displacement of liquid or gel to its original shape for replenishing the displacement device.

8. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the trigger is provided with a plurality of liquid/gel outlets which are normally closed and are individually opened by digital pressure on them, whereby the liquid or gel is expelled selectively where the digits act against the trigger.

9. The door handle of claim 8, wherein individual closure members, such as balls or plugs, are provided to close individual outlets, with each closure member being urged into its outlet by a respective spring.

10. The door handle of claim 9, wherein the springs are coil springs or leaf springs in the form of tabs bent from a single strip.

11. The door handle of claim 8, wherein closure members are provided to close individual outlets, the closure members optionally being integrally moulded to resilient fingers, which urge their closure members into the outlets.

12. The door handle of claim 1, comprising a non-return valve allowing liquid/gel flow to from the reservoir to the displacement device.

13. The door handle of claim 1, comprising a second grip adapted to provide a physical antibacterial action to compliment the liquid/gel of the first grip which provides a chemical antibacterial action.

14. The door handle of claim 1, comprising a guard member arranged to protect the reservoir from impact, if a door on which the handle is mounted is opened and brought into contact with an adjacent wall.

15. The door handle of claim 1, comprising a second, upper liquid/gel reservoir removably mounted on the handle which, when fitted, is in fluid communication with the lower liquid/gel reservoir by virtue of an aperture of the upper liquid/gel reservoir engaging with an aperture of the lower liquid/gel reservoir.

16. A door to which is fitted a door handle according to claim 1.

33. The door handle of claim 5, wherein the displacement device has a return spring for the chamber and the trigger.

17. A door handle comprising:

a first grip adapted to provide a chemical antibacterial action by applying liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user'"'"'s hand; and

a second grip adapted to provide a physical antibacterial action.

18. The door handle of claim 17, wherein the second grip has a surface made of a material with an antibacterial action.

19. The door handle of claim 17, wherein the second grip incorporates an ultraviolet (UV) light source adapted to radiate UV light from inside the second grip to a UV-transparent outer surface of the grip, thereby providing an antibacterial action.

20. The door handle of claim 17, wherein the first grip extends vertically and the second grip extends vertically and the second grip is arranged below and in line with the first grip.

21. A door to which is fitted a door handle according to claim 17, wherein the first grip is arranged at an optimum height for door actuation by an adult so that the second grip is lower, thereby through ergonomics making it more likely that a user will open the door using the first grip.

22. A door handle comprising:

a grip adapted to apply liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user'"'"'s hand;

a liquid/gel reservoir in fluid communication with the grip; and

a guard member arranged to protect the reservoir from impact, if a door to which the handle is fitted is opened and brought into contact with an adjacent wall.

23. A door to which is fitted a door handle according to claim 22.

24. A door handle comprising:

a grip adapted to apply liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user'"'"'s hand;

a first, lower liquid/gel reservoir in fluid communication with the grip; and

a second, upper liquid/gel reservoir removably mounted on the handle which, when fitted, is in fluid communication with the lower liquid/gel reservoir by virtue of an aperture of the upper liquid/gel reservoir engaging with an aperture of the lower liquid/gel reservoir.

25. The door handle of claim 24, wherein the lower liquid/gel reservoir has a flap that is arranged to be movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein absent actuation and when the upper liquid/gel reservoir is not fitted the flap adopts the closed position in which the flap forms a closure over the aperture in the lower liquid/gel reservoir and wherein fitment of the upper liquid/gel reservoir to the handle urges the flap into its open position which allows liquid/gel transfer from the upper liquid/gel reservoir to the lower liquid/gel reservoir.

26. The door handle of claim 25, wherein the lower liquid/gel reservoir comprises a vent element arranged in an upper surface portion thereof, which is connected to the flap, such that when the flap is in the closed position the vent is closed and when the flap is in the open position the vent is open to facilitate filling of the lower liquid/gel reservoir with liquid/gel from the upper liquid/gel reservoir.

27. The door handle of claim 24, wherein the lower liquid/gel reservoir has an integral visual level indicator.

28. The door handle of claim 24, comprising a light arranged to illuminate at least one of the upper and lower liquid/gel reservoirs and a switch arranged to be actuated by fitment of the upper liquid/gel reservoir and thereby turn on the light.

29. A door to which is fitted a door handle according to claim 24.

30. A door handle adapted to apply liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user'"'"'s hand, the handle comprising:

a liquid/gel reservoir;

a grip in fluid communication with the liquid/gel reservoir;

a liquid/gel displacement device disposed in the grip; and

a trigger comprising a liquid/gel outlet, wherein the trigger is displacably mounted on the grip and adapted to actuate the displacement device when the handle is gripped for displacement of liquid/gel from liquid/gel outlet and onto a surface of the trigger.

31. A door to which is fitted a door handle according to claim 30.

32. (canceled)