In the last 100 years there have been at least eight worldwide pandemics influenzas which have killed approximately 55 million people. The COVID-19 global pandemic in 2019 brought that threat closer to home and heightened people's fear of contamination from touching exposed public surfaces and objects. Contactless transactions and interaction with terminals through touchscreen, keypad, and keyboard devices found on automated teller machines (ATM), debit card machines also known as point of sale (POS), airport check-in terminals, high rise telecom, keyless doors, elevators, to name a few, have increased exponentially.
Viruses, microorganisms, bacteria, germs and other harmful elements transferred onto the finger from a finger touching public surfaces and objects can be transmitted into the body by way of nose, eyes, ears, mouth, and saliva causing sickness and in some cases death. Viruses, microorganisms, bacteria, germs and other harmful elements can also spread from person to person or from person to surfaces and objects or from surfaces and objects to person, therefore, creating potential secondary transmission. People may not use disinfecting wipes or wash their hands after physical contact with potentially contaminated surfaces or objects due to lack of wipes accessibility, lack of facilities, a simple oversight, or lack of concern.
Finger and hand protectors have long been used to help the user in carrying out special operations within fields such as but not limited to sewing, food preparation, nail salon, sporting activities, and medical or dental procedures and their benefits are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 10,645,983,983 B2 discloses finger sheaths for individual finger coverings which prevents transfer of germs, dirt, and other residual and harmful elements onto the user's fingers when contacting exposed surfaces or items as well as their transfer from the user's finger to the user's mouth while eating finger food. U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,549 discloses a finger glove that fits into a human finger can be used as a substitute for cotton balls, swabs, and/or gauzes or as an oral cleaning device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,626 discloses a protective guard to reduce the potential of practitioner's skin and tissue being inadvertently penetrated by shards during routine medical, dental or laboratory procedures. U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,692 discloses thumb and finger protectors against chafing and rubbing soars and other skin injury and/or irritation that are caused by the handling of nail tile and/or cuticle nipper in connection with manicurists' services. U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,437 discloses a sewing thimble with an elastic fitting member and hand pull flap.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,354 discloses an improved rubber finger shield commonly used by file clerks and other clerical staff in the quick manipulation of sheets or stacks of paper for filing, segregating and organizing purposes.
During the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2019 people were often seen using standard rubber or latex gloves for hand protection against contamination from exposed public surfaces or objects. Although individualized finger or fingertip coverage and gloves can offer protection against contamination, they do not offer the ability to retract the potentially contaminated surface area within a protective band when not in use or provide the adaptability and convenience for securement to objects such as key chains or the like which maximizes usage. In addition, most of these finger and hand protectors are not suitable to be used more than once, not always handy, time-consuming to put on and off especially during warm weather and pollute the environment when not disposed of properly. Furthermore, these finger and hand protectors are often misused by the user touching the contaminated surface area when taking the them off which increases the risk of self-contamination and secondary transmission and usually disposed of in an unsafe manner which further increases the risk of secondary transmission. Although these finger coverings and hand protectors offer the functionality they are intended for, none offer all the fundamental objectives and characteristics of the present invention such as but not limited to reusability, adjustability to various finger diameter, comfortable secure fit preventing slippage, touchscreen keypad and keyboard compatible. Other objectives and characteristics of the present invention include the ability to retract the contaminated barrier into a band when not in use reducing self-contamination or secondary transmission and the adaptability for securement to objects such as a key chain or the like which maximizes usage.
As such a need exists for personal protection equipment that safeguards fingers against contamination while minimizing self-contamination and secondary transmission by way of a retractable function. In addition, there is a need for an apparatus that is reusable, touchscreen keypad keyboard compatible, compact, accessible, portable, adjustable and is adaptable for securement to objects such as key chain and the like.
An objective of the present invention is to create personal protective equipment for finger that is an improvement over typical finger and hand protectors. It is desirable to construct an apparatus using various recycled and eco-friendly material in a cost-effective manner.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a slim compact accessible apparatus that is adaptable for securement to objects such as key chain and the like whereby the apparatus may be conveniently carried in a manner to maximize its use and minimize the danger of loss or misplacement and may be readily released from said securement if desired.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a reusable apparatus that is equally suitable for right-handed or left-handed users.
Another objective of the present invention is to construct an apparatus in a cost effective manner with minimum seams or seals.
Another objective of the present invention is to create an apparatus that resiliently adapts to accommodate a range of finger diameters and is easy to use by all ages.
A further objective of the present invention is to offer a comfortable secure fit on the finger to prevent slippage when in use.
A still further objective of the present invention is to be touchscreen, keypad, keyboard compatible
Yet a further objective of the present invention is to create maximum protection against the transfer of viruses, germs, dirt, and other harmful elements onto a finger when a finger touches exposed surfaces or objects. This objective is achieved by utilizing a barrier consisting of a non-permeable, durable, tear-resistant fabric and preferably latex and nitrile free antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral material which keeps bacteria, fungi, and viruses from flourishing within its fiber.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a retractable function of the barrier to ensure potentially contaminated barrier is not exposed when not in use, therefore, reducing potential self-contamination or secondary transmission. As well the retractable feature minimizes misused by user touching the barrier's potentially contaminated surface area after use. Still, a further objective of the present invention is to offer accommodation for the incorporation of custom dyes and supplementary facades to the apparatus outer layer such as a metal plate or the like for altered appearances as well as accommodating printed advertisement or advertising or logo or statement on the apparatus outer layer and barrier.
Preferred embodiments of the retractable finger barrier are described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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In the preferred embodiment of the retractable finger barrier, the band (1) is opened by squeezing either the right hand's thumb (11) and finger (9) or the left hand's thumb (11) and finger (9) at both ends of the band (1) when the band (1) is placed horizontally between thumb (11) and finger (9). This squeezing movement is called the pinching action (10) and is illustrated in
Referring to
After use, finger (9) is withdrawn by pinching thumb (11) and finger (9) of the opposite hand at both ends of the band (1) and extracting finger (9). As a result, the extracted finger (9) is void of any potential transfer of contamination or harmful elements. Retracting the potentially contaminated barrier (5) is accomplished by pulling outwardly the cord (6) protruding from the band's (1) edge. The cord (6) is housed strategically inside the double stich tunnel sewn on the outer edge of the barrier (5) to achieving full retractability of the barrier (5) within the band (1) after use. The ability to safely store the potentially contaminated barrier (5) inside the band (1) ensures no self transmission and secondary transmission when not in use. For additional protective measures, the barrier (5) surface area can be cleaned and disinfected by the user prior to storing the barrier (5) inside the band (1). A standard key ring (7) and the like found at the end of the cord offers supplementary gripping of the cord during the retractable action. In addition, the standard key ring (7) allows for securement of the apparatus to objects such as key chains and the like whereby the apparatus may be conveniently carried in a manner to maximize its use and minimize the danger of loss or misplacement and may be readily released from said securement if desired.
Certain embodiments of the present invention include but are not limited to offering maximum protection against transfer of viruses, germs, dirt, and other harmful elements onto finger when a finger touches exposed surfaces or objects such as but not limited to surface areas of a touchscreen, keypad, keyboard devices or buttons. Additional applications include but not limited to the protection against transfer of germs, bacteria, and other harmful elements when using and touching bathrooms, building doors, shopping carts, and produce at grocery stores. The retractable finger barrier can be used in these situations to allow a person to safely come into contact with these and the like surfaces without receiving any of the harmful elements that reside thereon.
The existence and benefits of finger and hand protectors such as latex or rubber gloves, fingertip shields or sheaths, and the like for carrying out special operations within fields such as but not limited to sewing, food preparation, nail salon, sporting activities, and medical or dental procedures are well known. Although these finger coverings and hand protectors offer the functionality they are intended for, none offer all the fundamental objectives and characteristics of the present invention such as but not limited to reusability, adjustability to various finger diameter, anti slippage and touchscreen keypad and keyboard compatibility.
Other objectives and characteristics of the present invention not offered by existing inventions is the ability to retract the potentially contaminated barrier into the band when not in use, therefore, reducing self-contamination or secondary transmission and the adaptability for securement to objects such as a key chain or the like maximizes usage and minimize loss.
In general, the retractable finger barrier depicted in
In some embodiment, the internal layer (3) consists of alternate material or component such as polyethylene foam and the like that offers the same desired outcome as the present invention internal layer (3). In another embodiment, the internal component (4) consists of alternative material that offers elastic deformation such that change in the shape of a material at low stress is recoverable after stress is removed.
In some embodiment, an additional component is added to the exterior of the band's edges to provide additional durability and comfort when executing the pinching function (10).
Different embodiments involve manufacturing the retractable finger barrier in various sizes, for example, in standard small, medium, and large sizes to accommodate the varying finger diameters and lengths of different users. Meaning offering alternate dimensions of the band's length, width and thickness, and the barrier's length, width and thickness.
In another embodiment, the retractable finger barrier is constructed to permit usage over gloves or other hand and finger coverage.
In some embodiments, elastomer or raised patterns of a coated elastomer are found on the band's outer layer (2) and barrier (5) to provide non-slip gripping surfaces and improve protection at the fingertip and glow-in-the-dark material is used for additional usage.
In other embodiments, some or all components of the apparatus are made of viable environmentally friendly alternatives material.
In general terms, retractable function refers to any mechanism that allows one component to recede within another component. Different embodiments encompass a retractable function designed in an alternate way to provide the ability to retract the barrier (5) within the band (1).
In some embodiment, the retractable function is achieved by having the cord and the like exit from both ends of a band and the like. In another embodiment, the retractable function is achieved by having a cord and the like exit from any part of a band and the like. In yet another embodiment, a cord and the like are constructed as to retract within a lanyard type mechanism. In another embodiment, the apparatus is not adaptable for securement to objects such as the key chain and the like.
In another embodiment, the functionality of securing apparatus to another object is realized in a manner other than a key ring (7).
In some embodiments the barrier (5) incorporates, infuse, embed, interwoven, coat or overlay sanitized gel such as glycerine, ethanol, triclosan, or other sanitizing agents into the barrier (5) providing additional protective properties beyond shielding the user's finger. As the user insert finger (9) and expands the barrier (5), the sanitized gel comes into contact with the skin neutralizing any potential harmful elements.
In another embodiment, the manufacturer or other service provider pre-treats the barrier (5) material with one or more antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal properties. As a result, the outer layer (2) and barrier (5) material can be customized.
It is understood that the present invention may be embodied in other forms and is not limited to the sole embodiment describes above but encompasses any, and all embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims. Therefore, the present invention must be considered in all respects as illustrative only.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63040354 | Jun 2020 | US |