Sanitizing barrier opening device

• US 8,061,565 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald G. Baker
• Original Assignee: Ronald G. Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Ronald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US12/589,325
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/192, 222/180, 222/505, 222/509, 222/321.8, 222/153.01, 222/153.03, 222/153.04, 222/153.14
• US Class Current: 222/192
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and device for sanitizing a user'"'"'s hands prior to the user being granted access to an area. A barrier restricts access to a particular area without sanitization of the user'"'"'s hands. A locking finger of the present invention prevents opening of the barrier. The locking finger adjusts between an allow access position and a prevent access position to prevent a user from passing the barrier without adjusting the locking finger to the allow access position. To open the barrier, a user must adjust an access arm from a lock position to an unlock position to adjust the position of the locking finger. The user pivots the access arm towards the barrier if the barrier is opened by pushing the barrier. The user pivots the access arm away from a barrier that requires to be pulled upon. The pivoting of the access arm releases a cleaning substance to the user'"'"'s hands pivoting the access arm requiring the user to sanitize his hands before accessing the area beyond the barrier.

Claims

1. An apparatus that promotes washing a user'"'"'s hands by dispensing a cleaning substance when accessing an opening mechanism of a barrier comprising:

a container for storage of a cleaning substance;

a dispensing aperture adapted to release the cleaning substance from said container; and

an access arm adapted to limit access to the opening mechanism of the barrier, said access arm adapted to adjust towards the barrier and away from the barrier, said access arm adapted to pivot between an open position and a close position, said access arm in said open position indicates the opening mechanism is adjusted to an allow access position that allows opening of the barrier, said access arm in said close position indicates the opening mechanism is adjusted to a prevent access position that prevents opening of the barrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said access arm further comprises a contact body, said contact body adapted to be contacted by user to adjust said access arm from said close position to said open position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said access arm has an attached end and a free end, said attached end of the access arm pivotally attaches to said container, said free end of said access arm adjusts towards and away from the barrier.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said free end of said access arm adjusts toward the barrier to adjust said access arm to said open position to adjust the opening mechanism to the allow access position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the opening mechanism adjusts away from the barrier to adjust to the allow access position wherein the opening mechanism adjusts the access arm to the open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said access arm has an attached end and a free end, said attached end of the access arm hingeably attaches to the barrier, said free end of said access arm adjusts towards and away from the barrier.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said free end of said access arm adjusts toward the barrier to adjust said access arm to said open position to adjust the opening mechanism to the allow access position.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the opening mechanism adjusts away from the barrier to adjust to the allow access position wherein the opening mechanism adjusts the access arm to the open position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dispensing aperture releases the cleaning substance towards said access arm as a result of adjustment of said access arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one guarding body, said guarding body adapted to prevent a user from contacting at least a portion of the opening mechanism, said guarding body adapted to allow said access arm to contact the opening mechanism.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one guarding body, said guarding body adapted to prevent a user from contacting at least a portion of the opening mechanism, said guarding body adapted to allow said access arm to contact the opening mechanism.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said access arm is in communication with said container wherein the adjustment of said access arm releases the cleaning substance.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a pump adapted to release the cleaning substance from the container, said access arm in communication with said pump such that adjustment of the access arm operates said pump to release the cleaning substance.

11. An apparatus that promotes washing a user'"'"'s hands by dispensing a cleaning substance when accessing an opening mechanism of a barrier comprising:

a container for storage of a cleaning substance;

an access arm adapted to adjust in relation to the barrier, said access arm adapted to pivot towards the barrier and away from the barrier, said access arm adapted to pivot between an open position and a close position, said access arm in said close position indicates the opening mechanism is adjusted to a prevent access position that prevents opening of the barrier, said access arm in said open position indicates the opening mechanism is adjusted to an allow access position that allows opening of the barrier, said access arm biased to said close position, said access arm in communication with said container wherein adjustment of said access arm releases the cleaning substance; and

a dispensing aperture in said container, said dispensing aperture adapted to release the cleaning substance from said container as a result of adjustment of said access arm.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said access arm has an attached end and a free end, said free end of said access arm pivots toward the barrier to adjust said access arm to said open position to adjust the opening mechanism to the allow access position.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said access arm has an attached end and a free end, said free end of said access arm adjusts away from the barrier to adjust said access arm to said unlock position to place said locking finger to said allow access position.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a pump adapted to release the cleaning substance from the container, said access arm in communication with said pump such that adjustment of the access arm operates said pump to release the cleaning substance.

18. A method of maintaining a sterile environment, the method comprising:

preventing access to an area with a barrier;

providing a container storing cleaning substance;

requiring a user to adjust an access arm from a close position to an open position;

dispensing the cleaning substance from said container;

adjusting an opening mechanism from a prevent access position that maintains the barrier in a closed position to an allow access position that allows the barrier to open.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of requiring a user to adjust said access arm further comprises:

adjusting said access arm toward the barrier to place said access arm in said open position wherein the access arm contacts the opening mechanism to adjust the opening mechanism to the allow access position.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of requiring a user to adjust said access arm further comprises:

adjusting the opening mechanism away from the barrier to place the opening mechanism in said allow access position wherein the opening mechanism contacts the access arm to adjust the access arm to the open position.