The present invention relates to hygiene protection for handles, and in particular for handles of shopping carts, luggage carts, and the like.
It is well-known that viral and bacterial pathogens can be present on people's hands, whether or not they are infected with a particular pathogen. It is also well-known that such pathogens can survive on surfaces for several hours or more on surfaces. If a “recipient” person comes in contact with such surfaces, any pathogens on the surfaces may potentially infect the recipient if they touch their eyes, noses or mouth after contact with such surfaces. Of particular concern are surfaces that are routinely touched by many people over a short timeframe, as is the case with cart handles. The problem is made worse in the context of shopping carts insofar as pathogens can be physically transmitted from an affected cart handle, to food and/or household products, and then to others who may handle such objects at a later time.
The foregoing, of course, is of particular concern during a pandemic, such as that experienced with Covid-19.
Thus, there is a particular need to eliminate or at least dramatically reduce transmission of pathogens by physical contact with frequently touched surfaces, and in particular, cart handles such as those on shopping or luggage carts.
The present invention is directed to apparatus for application to a cart handle, comprising a paper roll formed of a semi-rigid tube and a plurality of sheets of paper wrapped around the tube, wherein the paper roll is sized to accommodate the diameter and length of the cart handle and provided with a slit therethrough along its length such that the paper roll may be applied to and cover the handle by forcing it onto the handle at the slit, to cause the paper roll to flex outwardly and over the handle and resiliently return to its original shape on the handle. The sheets are preferably adhered to the tube at the opposite ends of the tube, and a top one of the sheets of paper may be removed from the paper roll to thereby expose a sheet underneath the top one of the sheets.
The sheets are preferably provided with a tab and perforations near the opposite ends of the tube to facilitate the removal of the top one of the sheets. The sheets are preferably comprised of waxed, water-resistant, biodegradable paper, are approximately 0.004″ thick, and the paper roll preferably includes from approximately 63 to approximately 125 sheets. The tube may be comprised of cardboard.
The apparatus may further include a pair of annular clamps adapted to secure opposite ends of the paper roll to the handle. Each of the annular clamps preferably includes a hinge, which when opened, allows it to be applied to or removed from the paper roll and the handle.
These and other aspects, details and objects of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawing figures of which:
A hygienic cart handle having peel-off paper 10 in accordance with an example of the present invention is shown in
In use, before any other portion of the cart is touched, the user will grip the tab 18 of the top sheet and pull the sheet away from the paper roll to thereby separate the top sheet from the handle at the perforations 20. The top sheet may then be discarded. The user then may grip the newly exposed sheet on the paper roll 16, which sheet has neither been touched by any other person, nor exposed to the atmosphere, thus eliminating, or at least dramatically reducing, the chance of contacting a pathogen on the cart handle.
With reference to
The paper roll 16 may optionally be secured to the handle 24 by annular clamps 26, which can be identical, as shown in
Thus, the present invention provides a hygienic, pathogen free cart handle for users to grip, thereby reducing the likelihood of transmission of pathogens from the handle to the user.
While the foregoing is directed to preferred embodiments of the present invention, further changes, objects, aspects and embodiments of the present invention will be appreciated by those in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention, which will be defined by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications Ser. Nos. 63/135,127, filed Mar. 2, 2021, and 63/159,144, filed Mar. 10, 2021, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63135127 | Mar 2021 | US | |
63159144 | Mar 2021 | US |