Method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid

• US 8,505,782 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altitude Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altitude Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Gardiner, Virginia, McKnight, Jacob, Oshmyansky, Alexander R., Tavin, Adam, Heropoulos, George W., Nicolau, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE ELAINE
• Application Number:
  US12/930,603
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 222/192, 222/207, 222/402.1, 222/321.1, 222/321.7, 222/1, 222/180, 222/181.3, 222/323, 222/324, 422/292, 422/300, 422/306, 422/123
• US Class Current: 222/192
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid. The apparatus includes a handle having a trigger lever and a spray nozzle; a check valve coupled to the spray nozzle; a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the check valve; and a reservoir cartridge fluidly coupled to the pump assembly, where manipulation of the handle and the trigger lever causes the pump assembly to supply sanitizer fluid from the cartridge, through the check valve, and to the nozzle. A method of selectively dispensing sanitizer fluid includes selectively manipulating a handle to manipulate a door latch or manipulating a handle and a trigger lever to manipulate a door latch and dispense sanitizing fluid through a spray nozzle proximate the trigger lever.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid comprising:

a manually operable door handle comprising a trigger lever and a spray nozzle, wherein the handle and trigger lever are independently operable;

a check valve coupled to the spray nozzle;

a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the check valve; and

a reservoir cartridge fluidly coupled to the pump assembly, where manipulation of the handle and the trigger lever causes the pump assembly to supply sanitizer fluid from the reservoir cartridge, through the check valve and to the nozzle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base supporting the handle, pump assembly and cartridge.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the handle further comprising

a spindle coupling the handle to the base;

and

a fulcrum point.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the handle is rotatable about the spindle and the trigger lever is rotatable about the fulcrum point.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the rotation of the handle is adapted to manipulate a door latch and draw sanitizer fluid from the reservoir cartridge.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the rotation of the handle together with the rotation of the trigger lever is adapted to manipulate a door latch, draw sanitizer fluid from the cartridge and disperse sanitizer fluid through the spray nozzle.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the handle is coupled to a rotating cam that interacts with a pump, where rotation of the handle and the cam generates linear motion to actuate the pump to draw sanitizer fluid from the cartridge.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein sanitizer fluid is returned to the cartridge when the handle is rotated without corresponding rotation of the trigger lever.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein rotation of the trigger lever actuates a magnet to open the check valve to allow sanitizer fluid to be dispersed through the spray nozzle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sanitizer fluid is dispensed as at least one of a liquid, a aerosol, a spray, or a stream.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sanitizer fluid comprises at least one of an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, or anti-fungal compound.

12. A method of selectively dispensing sanitizer fluid, comprising:

selectively manipulating a manually operable door handle to manipulate a door latch or manipulating a handle and a trigger lever, wherein the handle and trigger lever are independently operable, to manipulate a door latch and dispense sanitizing fluid through a spray nozzle located on the handle and proximate the trigger lever.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the sanitizer fluid is dispensed as at least one of a liquid, a aerosol, a spray, or a stream.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the sanitizer fluid comprises at least one of an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, or anti-fungal compound.