Patent Application
20220024026
This invention relates to a door opener multitool apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a device that allows for contactless control of doors and other movable objects, carrying of bags, as well as contactless activation of buttons, having an ergonomic grip and a case for secure and sanitary storage.
Recent health crises have highlighted the importance of personal hygiene, and difficulty in personal avoidance of infectious microbes in public places with frequent traffic. Door handles, elevator buttons, point of sale (POS) machines, etc. are places where people frequently touch. Even with frequent disinfection and cleaning, such surfaces are quickly contaminated with variety of viruses, bacteria, and other potentially harmful microbes, and are difficult to maintain in sufficient sanitation levels. A variety of tools have been used in hospitals and other high traffic and high exposure locations. However, many of the prior tools require a semi-permanent fixture, such as elbow hold or foot opener, on the door for people to use. Many public places do not have such fixtures. Furthermore, these public fixtures may themselves be contaminated.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0086477 describes a “compact and portable door pull for sanitary use.” Id. at ¶ 32. The '477 publication discloses a single piece device with an extension embodiment and a single piece device with a flip out/rotate out embodiment. Both of the embodiments disclosed in the '477 publication require the user to grip the handle in sufficient force and does not address the problem where a user's hand may slip from the handle.
Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in the '477 publication are bulkier in light of the additional mechanism required to extend or rotate the hook feature. In addition, the embodiments disclosed in the '477 publication contain extraneous pieces extending out of the device that may be caught on clothing or other items while the device is not in use.
The present invention is directed to a system and apparatus that enables a user to handle movable objects, such as doors or drawers, which are frequently touched by multiple people. Such surfaces are likely to collect extra germs from frequent contact by other people. The present system and apparatus provide a personal device to the user to control exposed objects without personally being exposed to infectious microbes on those objects. The integrally provided case further provides for secure and sanitary storage of the device. Specifically, the case contains the contact surfaces of the device to prevent any microbes transferred from a surface to the device from then being transferred to a user's pocket, bag or purse, and thus cross-contaminating the user. The case also prevents the device from being caught in loose objects or clothing. The present invention further provides a grip mechanism that enables the user to operate heavier objects without loss of grip. In a preferred embodiment, the contact portion of the device is made of a copper alloy, which has natural anti-microbial properties to help sanitize the device and kill microbes that come in contact with it. The integral provided case may also be manufactured with an additive to provide the case itself with antimicrobial properties.
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in relation to the figures. Persons having ordinary skill in the relevant field will understand that use of the directional words such as up, down, left, and right, refers to the direction of the properly oriented figure, and it is not otherwise intended to be limiting.
The hook 13 may include a pair of channels 20/21 placed in opposing sides of the hook 13. The pair of channels 20/21 has a depth of at least the length of a pair of raised members 55/56 (which are shown and described in relation to
A user may hold the opener member 10 from the handle 11, and use the hook 13 to grab door handle, drawer handle or the like to open such devices without directly contacting those surfaces. Similarly, the user could secure the hook 13 around the handle of a bag to pick up a bag. Such configuration allows an extra level of hygiene by allowing the user to avoid contacting frequently touched surfaces. The tip 14 extends from an end of the device past the hook 13. The tip 14 has a blunt end 19 that is sized to push buttons, such as elevator buttons or point of sale terminal buttons. The blunt end 19 preferably lacks sharp edges or corners that could crack or scratch a touch screen or button covering. In alternative embodiments, the blunt end 19 may be made of polymers, such as rubber, or other soft materials to reduce the impact of the blunt end 19 on touch screens or buttons. In other alternatives, the blunt end 19 may be formed in a different shape, such as rounded.
In one embodiment, the opener member 10 may be manufactured from conductive material. In such embodiment, the opener member 10 may conduct the electrical charge from the user's hand to capacitive screens to allow the user to control such screens and other touch screen buttons. In other alternatives, the device could be made from a conductive polymer.
In order to place the opener member 10 within the case member 50, a user inserts the hook 13 end of the opener member 10 into the pocket 57 of the case member 50 via the opening 58. The pair of channels 20/21 located on the hook 13 allows the hook 13 to pass over the pair of raised members 55/56 with less obstruction. The pair of channels 20/21 manufactured in a way to align with the pair of raised members 55/56. The shape and the dimensions of the pair of channels 20/21 may differ in alternative embodiments so long as the pair of raised members pass through the hook 13 with less obstruction. The opener member 10 and the case member 50 are manufactured in a way to align the pair of raised members 55/56 and the recess 15. When sufficient force is applied to the opener member 10 towards to case member 50, the raised members 55/56 snap into the recess 15 and retains the opener member 10 within the case member 50. When engaged, the opener member 10 remains attached to the case member 50. The engagement is not permanent. In order to disengage the raised members 55/56 from the recess 15, a user applies sufficient force to the opener member 10 and the case member 50 in opposing directions.
The case member 50 is preferably made from a polymer with an antibacterial additive. The antibacterial additive is preferably an inorganic antibacterial powder capable of reducing the concentration of substances of very high concern to less than %0.01 weight/weight. In the preferred embodiment, the antibacterial additive is silver ion. In other alternative embodiments, other antibacterial additives may be used instead of silver ion so long as a similar level of disinfection can be achieved. When the opener member 10 is stored in the case member 50, the case member 50 passively disinfects the opener member 10. In alternative embodiments, a more or less effective additive may be used in order to reach a desired level of disinfection. Higher level of disinfection may be desired where the use of the door opener multitool 100 is likely to encounter higher concentration of contaminants. In alternative embodiments, the opener member 10 may also be made from a polymer with the antibacterial additive.
In alternative embodiments, the opener member 10 may be smaller than the case member 50.
In other alternative embodiments, more than a single pair of raised members 55/56 may be provided within the pocket 57 of the case member 50. In such alternative, the middle member 12 of the opener member 10 includes additional through holes corresponding to each pair of additional raised members. Such alternatives may be beneficial when a more secure fit between the opener member 10 and the case member 50 is desired.
