Patent Application
20240057700
The invention is directed to a multi-function hand and gripping device, especially useful in providing a sanitary barrier between the hand of a user and unsanitary surfaces in public transportation.
Personal hygiene and safety have always been important, but in the last few years the dangers of exposure to potential pathogens and other contaminants have grown increasingly worrisome.
Riding in public transportation is especially fraught, with riders unable to control the surfaces with which they may come in contact, such as poles, straps and handles. Not only are these surfaces not continuously cleaned and disinfected, their exposure to environmental contaminants, i.e., dirt, dust and exhausts, is constant.
The same holds true for many other surfaces with which an individual may come in contact on a daily basis: door handles, shopping carts and all surfaces in public lavatories, are just a few which come to mind.
These surfaces are rarely cleaned and their cleaning often involves nothing more than using a damp cloth to spread contaminants from one surface to another, with no actual removal of the offending contaminants.
The public's current choices for avoiding contacts with such soiled surfaces are limited: using handkerchiefs, napkins, paper towels and the like. These alternatives are not satisfactory, as most involve disposing of the soiled product after use, while the re-usable alternatives, such as handkerchiefs may themselves be soiled from alternative uses.
There are currently no satisfactory solutions to this problem, and the public is left at risk.
There is therefore a need in the art for a new paradigm for protecting the public from contaminants and pathogens found on surfaces which are being touched in public. This new paradigm should be non-toxic, environmentally friendly, easily transportable and inexpensive.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device for allowing gripping and touching of surfaces found in public.
In accordance with this, and other objects of the invention, there is provided a multi-function hand and gripping device for use in protecting a user from undesired contact with an exterior surface, the device comprising: a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being positioned to support the user when in use and the lower surface of the base member being positioned opposite to the upper surface to contact the exterior surface when in use; and at least one securing member for securing the device in place when in use; whereby the user may deploy the device to provide protection against the user directly contacting the exterior surface when in use.
In accordance with these, and other objects of the invention, there is further provided a multi-function hand and gripping device for use in protecting a user from undesired contact with an exterior surface, the device comprising: a generally planar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being positioned to support the user when in use and the lower surface of the base member being positioned opposite to the upper surface to contact the exterior surface when in use; and at least one securing member for securing the device in place when in use; wherein the base member and the securing member are integrally formed of a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicon rubber, rubber, latex, nitrile, vinyl, artificial rubber and polypropylene; whereby the user may deploy the device to provide protection against the user directly contacting the exterior surface when in use.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawing is not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, it is merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
In the drawing:
Device 10 includes a base member 12 and a securing member 14. Base member 12 is preferably generally planar and has an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 18 opposed to lower surface 16. Securing member 14 is preferably comprised of two straps 20, 22.
In the presently most preferred embodiment, base member 12 has a front edge 24 and a rear edge 26, preferably generally parallel to one another and spaced approximately 5.5 inches apart. Base member 12 further has left and right side edges, 28, 30, respectively, disposed opposite one another at approximately 3.75 inches at their widest separation. Base member 12 preferably narrows towards front edge 24 thereof at an angle of approximately 33°, terminating at a rounded edge having a curvature of approximately 4×R 1.00 inches.
Straps 20, 22 are each preferably approximately 0.8 inches wide, with the rear edge of the rearmost strap 20 being approximately 1.7 inches from rear edge 26 of base member 12. The front edge of the frontmost strap 22 is spaced approximately 1.7 inches from front edge 24 of base member 12, leaving a spacing of approximately 0.7 inches between the adjacent edges of straps 22, 24. This structure preferably yields a spacing between straps 20, 24 and upper surface 16 of base member 12 of approximately 1.5 inches at their maximum height if straps 20, 24 are fully extended. Straps 22, 24 are preferably disposed generally parallel to one another and fixed at or near opposing sides 28, 30 of base member 12.
In the preferred embodiment, device 10 is integrally formed of a soft, flexible, washable and non-porous material so that it will not retain any undesired contaminants or pathogens after usage, and should also be flexible enough to permit flexing of the user's hand to grasp a surface, such as a pole, strap, handlebar, wheel, knob or lever when in use. A thickness of approximately 0.05 inches is preferred.
Device 10, constructed of materials such as described and in dimensions as described, may be used to provide protection against touching an exterior surface of an object which may be contaminated, as with a pathogen (referred to herein for simplicity as “an exterior surface”). In use, the user may slip his or her hand into device 10 between upper surface 16 of base member 12 and straps 22, 24. Since straps 22, 24 are flexible but not elastic, they will retain their form and secure the hand in place. If the user flexes his or her hand, base member 12 will flex with the hand, and permit the user to contact an exterior surface of any kind while maintaining separation therefrom. Preferably, device 10 is washable, even in a dishwasher or by hand with soap and water, thereby allowing the user to maintain the hygienic properties thereof.
It is also preferred that upper surface 16 of base member 12 have a generally smooth finish, for comfort, while bottom surface 18 thereof is preferably more textured, providing improved gripping of the exterior surface.
In this particular sizing, device 10 will accommodate a large segment of the populace, but not all. Smaller sizes, such as for children and larger sizes for larger adults, may be developed with different proportions, but the overall structure and spacings of such modified devices will be easily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art depending upon the particular application without undue experimentation.
Suitable materials for device 10 are preferably selected from the group consisting of neoprene, silicon rubber, rubber, latex, nitrile, vinyl, artificial rubber and polypropylene.
Optionally, device 10 may further include a clip 32 so that device 10 may be easily accessible to the user while not needing to be stowed inside a pocket, purse or briefcase, for example. Clip 32 may be used to attach device 10 to any desired object, such as the user's belt or a stationary object from which it may be retrieved when desired, such as a chair.
In the most preferred embedment, device 10 is made of recycled material, so that it is environmentally conscious and responsible. Since device 10 does not require the use of a covering of any kind, it is further environmentally conscious.
It is further preferred that device 10 be integrally formed, particularly of a single piece of tubing, which would eliminate certain manufacturing and assembly costs and likewise eliminate seams which might harbor contaminants or pathogens after use if not cleaned properly.
In the preceding Detailed Description, reference was made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this disclosure, and in which are shown illustrative specific embodiments of the invention. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the FIGURE. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of ease of understanding and illustration only and is not to be considered limiting.
Additionally, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63399140 | Aug 2022 | US |
