Sanitizing Door Handle

• US 20190329965A1
• Filed: 06/05/2018
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitatouch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kleantouch, LLC
• Inventors: Rafko, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,494,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0089 Dispensing tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1032 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/20 operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps actuators formed as a rigid elongate spout B65D83/306
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/267 by a separate device actuated by repeated, e.g. human, input, e.g. by a moving wing of a door or window, a ringing doorbell, a flushing toilet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/44 Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices filling or discharging means B65D83/42; pressure regulators releasing propellant inside the container B65D83/663; pressure relief devices B65D83/70
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/003 Handles pivoted about an axis perpendicular to the wing E05B3/00, E05B5/00, E05B13/106 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant

Abstract

Various implementations of the invention are directed toward a sanitizing door handle and/or components of such sanitizing door handle. Some implementations of the invention are directed toward a manual sanitizing door handle while some implementations of the invention are directed toward an auto-sanitizing door handle. According to some implementations of the invention, a sanitizing fluid is dispensed directly onto an exterior surface of the sanitizing door handle in connection with an operation of the door handle to sanitize the door handle. According to some implementations of the invention, a sanitizing fluid is dispensed directly onto a user'"'"'s hand(s) in connection with an operation of the door handle to sanitize the user'"'"'s hand(s).

Claims

1. A door handle comprising:

a door handle housing comprising a housing wall, wherein the housing wall forms an interior housing chamber, wherein the door handle housing is configured to be operatively mounted to a door;

a door handle grip coupled to the door handle housing, the door handle grip comprising a grip wall, wherein the grip wall forms an interior grip chamber, wherein the interior housing chamber of the housing wall and the interior grip chamber of the grip wall are in communication with one another, wherein the grip wall also forms a plurality of grip holes that communicate the interior grip chamber of the grip wall with an exterior surface of the grip wall;

a replaceable fluid container assembly disposed in the interior housing chamber of the housing wall, the replaceable fluid container assembly comprising;

a fluid container, and

a tubing having a first end and second end, wherein the first end of the tubing is configured to receive a fluid from the fluid container and to communicate the fluid to the second end of the tubing, wherein the second end of the tubing comprises a distribution manifold formed into and from the second end of the tubing, wherein the distribution manifold communicates fluid from an interior of the distribution manifold to an exterior of the distribution manifold via a plurality of distribution holes in the tubing, wherein the door handle grip is configured to receive the fluid from the distribution manifold; and

a pump configured to force the fluid out of the fluid container into the first end of the tubing, through the tubing to the distribution manifold at the second end of the tubing, through the distribution manifold into the interior grip chamber of the door handle grip, through the plurality of grip holes and onto an exterior of the grip wall.

2. The door handle of claim 1, further comprising a door latch actuator operatively coupled to the door handle.

3. The door handle of claim 2, further comprising a door latch linkage operatively coupling the door latch actuator to the door handle.

4. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises a sterilizing, disinfecting, antiseptic, antimicrobial, sanitizing or cleaning fluid.

5. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises an alcohol-based sanitizing fluid.

6. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the fluid container comprises a non-alcohol-based sanitizing fluid.

7. The door handle of claim 4, wherein the fluid comprises a gel-like carrier ingredient.

13. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the fluid container assembly further comprises a check valve disposed along the tubing between the fluid container and the second end of the tubing, the check valve configured to permit flow of the fluid through the tubing from the fluid container to the second end of the tubing and to inhibit flow of the fluid through the tubing back to the fluid container.

14. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the pump is a mechanically actuated pump.

15. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the pump is an electrically actuated pump.

16. The door handle of claim 1, wherein the pump is actuated when a user operates the door handle.

8-12. -12. (canceled)

17-20. -20. (canceled)