Sentinel event reducing safety knobs

• US 9,765,548 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick E. Keller
• Original Assignee: Patrick E. Keller
• Inventors: Keller, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US14/291,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 2923363
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0007 Knobs E05B1/0015, E05B1/0053, E05B1/0061, E05B1/0069 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0061 Knobs or handles with protective cover, buffer or shock absorber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/82 Knobs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/85 Knob-attaching devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/861 Guards

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a suicide prevention door handle and shower handle wherein each is designed to eliminate any area or structure that could be used to hold a belt, piece of clothing or the like as an aid in committing suicide by hanging. In each case, the safety knob comprises a tapered rose member or faceplate along with a cylinder wedge assembly or handle.

Claims

1. A safety knob device adapted to activate a shower valve, said safety knob device comprising:

a tubular faceplate comprising a housing adapted to be coupled to a shower valve, said faceplate having a tapered outer surface having an open small diameter end,

a rotatable valve handle having an outer diameter surface which substantially fills said small diameter end, an inner surface of the rotatable valve handle and an interior space of the tubular face plate forming an internal chamber, wherein said rotatable valve handle has an external cavity therein, and a gripping member located in said cavity,

a valve control member located in said internal chamber and adapted to be coupled to a shower valve, and an internal lip located between said valve handle and said valve control member, said internal lip adapted to provide an abutment surface to at least part of the inner surface of the rotatable valve handle;

wherein said safety knob device is arranged in form and shape such that it does not have a surface or point capable of being used as a hanging surface or hanging point.

2. A safety shower valve control device comprising:

a tubular outer body having a proximal end adapted to abut the surface of a shower wall, said outer body having an open distal end, said outer body having a tapered surface extending from said proximal end to said distal end and said distal end having a smaller diameter than said proximal end

a rotatable valve handle having an outer diameter surface which substantially fills the open distal end, an inner surface of the rotatable valve handle and an interior space of the outer body forming an internal chamber;

wherein said rotatable valve handle has an external cavity therein, and a gripping member located in said cavity,

a valve control member located in said internal chamber and adapted to be coupled to a shower valve, and

an internal lip on the interior surface of said outer body extending into said internal chamber, said lip being located between said rotatable valve handle and said valve control member and said rotatable valve handle being coupled to said valve control member, said internal lip adapted to provide an abutment surface to at least part of the inner surface of the rotatable valve handle;

wherein said safety shower control device is arranged in form and shape such that it does not have a surface or point capable of being used as a hanging surface or hanging point.

3. A safety shower valve control device comprising:

a tubular outer member adapted to abut a shower wall, the outer member having a tapered external surface and having an open small diameter end,

a rotatable valve handle member having an outer diameter surface which substantially fills said small diameter end, an inner surface of the rotatable valve handle and an interior space of the tubular outer member forming an internal chamber, said rotatable valve handle adapted to control a shower valve via a valve control member, said valve control member being located in said internal chamber, said valve control member is adapted to be coupled to a shower valve,

said rotatable handle member having an external cavity therein, and a gripping member on said handle member, the gripping member located in said external cavity,

wherein the outer member is adapted to abut a shower wall, and the configuration of the tapered external surface, rotatable handle member, and gripping member is such that said control device does not have a surface or point capable of being used as a hanging surface or hanging point.