Method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid via door handles, and recording data pertaining to hand sanitization

• US 9,670,692 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altitude Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altitude Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Oshmyansky, Alexander Roman, McKnight, Jacob Vincent, Paterson, Adam Wilmore, Laws, Matthew David, Gilbert, Richard James
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US14/424,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20150308149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0047 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/02 Handles similar handles for doors in general E05B1/0015
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• 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 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/00 Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught B67D3/00 takes precedence; apparatus for making beverages A47J31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/84 Casings, cabinets or frameworks; Trolleys or like movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0015 Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0084 Handles or knobs with displays, signs, labels pictures, or the like displays on locks E05B17/226; displays on keys E05B19/0088
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/42 acting only at the end of a single time interval
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for dispensing sanitizer fluid via handles on doors and equipment, and data and recording events pertaining to hand sanitization, are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid, comprising:

a pull handle having two ends, the pull handle adapted for mounting to a door, the pull handle comprising;

an upper stanchion positioned at a first end of the pull handle, and a lower stanchion positioned at a second end of the pull handle, wherein the pull handle is configured to be gripped between the upper and lower stanchions;

a push trigger, the push trigger positioned adjacent to the lower stanchion;

a cartridge, the cartridge disposed within the pull handle and adapted to contain sanitizer fluid;

a collapsible pump, the collapsible pump in fluid communication with the cartridge, wherein the push trigger is configured to compress the collapsible pump when pushed, and wherein the collapsible pump is configured to dispense said sanitizer fluid from the cartridge when compressed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronic control circuit comprising:

a circuit board, coupled to the handle, the circuit board including electronic memory and a processor connected to a power source, wherein upon gripping of the handle, the electronic control circuit is capable of recognizing a change in capacitance and transmitting a signal to the processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch to indicate the presence of a sanitizer cartridge within the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch to indicate the movement of the push trigger.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising electromechanical sensing apparatus used to sense a hand on the handle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a near field communication electronic chip or a Bluetooth®

device.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one of a speaker or a visual display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein pulling the door handle causes a control circuit to record data pertaining to at least one recording event, including door handle usage, sanitizer dispensation, or a current level of sanitizer remaining in the cartridge.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the positioning of the lower stanchion adjacent to the push trigger prevents simultaneous gripping of the handle and manipulation of the push trigger with one hand.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push trigger is positioned at the bottom of the door handle and comprises a concave shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data or a recording event is transmitted to at least one of a computer, a personal digital assistant, a tablet, or a smartphone.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one recording event is indicated by at least one of an auditory alarm or a visual alarm.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the door is maintained shut by at least one of an electrically actuated latch, a magnetic circuit, or an electronic circuit, and wherein the signal for the sanitization event is also sent to an electric or electronic circuit, allowing the door, whether an access door to a room or a door on a piece of equipment, to be opened by the closing or opening of a circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data is counted and collated on at least one of the computer, the personal digital assistant, the tablet or the smartphone and indicates at least one of when a cartridge is running low on sanitizer, a rate of sanitizer usage, or sanitization events, thereby targeting a date for changing the cartridge or ordering cartridges.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein sanitizer is not issued from the cartridge unless both a door handle usage and sanitizer dispensation recording event are recognized.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the recording event is capable of being recorded on an electronic memory.

17. An apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid, comprising:

a handle having two ends, the handle mounted to a door, the handle comprising;

at least one stanchion positioned on at least one end of the handle;

a push trigger, the push trigger positioned adjacent to the at least one stanchion so gripping the handle and manipulating the push trigger cannot be performed with one hand;

a cartridge for housing sanitizer fluid, the cartridge disposed within the handle;

a collapsible pump, the collapsible pump fluidly coupled with the cartridge, wherein manipulation of the push trigger with a hand causes sanitizer fluid to be issued from the cartridge into the hand manipulating the push trigger; and

an electronic control circuit comprising;

a circuit board, coupled to the handle, the circuit board including electronic memory and a processor connected to a power source wherein, upon a gripping of the handle, the electronic control circuit is capable of recognising a change in capacitance and sending a signal to the processor, wherein at least one of a door handle usage, a sanitizer dispensation, or a current level of sanitizer fluid within the cartridge is recorded.

18. An apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid, comprising:

a handle having two ends, the handle mounted to a door, the handle comprising;

at least one stanchion positioned on at least one end of the handle;

a push trigger positioned adjacent to the at least one stanchion wherein gripping the handle and manipulating the push trigger cannot both be performed with a hand;

a cartridge for housing sanitizer fluid, the cartridge disposed within the handle;

a collapsible pump, the collapsible pump fluidly coupled with the cartridge, wherein manipulating the push trigger with a hand causes sanitizer fluid to be issued from the cartridge into the hand manipulating the trigger; and

an electronic control circuit, coupled to the handle and a power source wherein, upon a gripping of the handle, the electronic control circuit is capable of recognising a change in capacitance for sensing a hand on the handle.