Germ barrier for a telecommunication device, and method of use thereof

A germ protector for a telecommunications device comprising a body portion having at least one open end for receiving the telecommunications device, the body portion being flexible to conform to the telecommunications device; wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the body portion is coated with a decontaminant.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following relates to embodiments of a germ barrier for use with a telecommunications device, and methods of providing a germ barrier.

BACKGROUND

In many environments, telecommunications devices, such as telephones, are commonplace and may be shared between multiple people. Each time the telecommunications device is used, bacteria, viruses, other pathogens and/or other harmful particles may be collect on the surfaces of the telecommunications device, which can then be transmitted from one user to the next. Particularly concerning is that telecommunications devices are typically held by a user's hand and placed next to the user's mouth, nose, and ear allowing for easy transmission of contaminants. In many cases, a user may deposit contaminates onto a telecommunications device with a hand or by contacting the telecommunications device to his or her mouth, nose, or ear. Facial hair may exacerbate the deposition of contaminates onto a telecommunications device. The user may also deposit contaminates onto the telecommunications device when he or she exhales, speaks, sneezes, burps, coughs, or otherwise releases air and saliva from his or her mouth or nose during use of the telecommunications device. Alternatively, an individual with malicious intent may deposit contaminants onto the telecommunications device purposefully. Subsequent users of the telecommunications device are likely to be exposed to these contaminates. For example, contaminants may be deposited onto a subsequent user's hand or face during use. Additionally, a subsequent user may inhale contaminants during use.

Contaminants that may be deposited on a telecommunications device include bacteria, viruses, other pathogens and/or other harmful particles such as poisons or radioactive material. Contaminants that are susceptible of being transmitted through use of a telecommunications device include methicillin-resistantstaphylococcus aureus, staph infections, Hepatitis C, other cold and flu like dieses, anthrax and ricin.

Telecommunications devices can transmit contaminants to users in almost any environment. Telecommunications devices in hospitals, medical/health care facilities, correctional facilities, Federal buildings, State buildings, Municipalities, Large facilities, and airports may transmit contaminants to users at an increased rate.

Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and method that addresses some or all of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY

A first aspect relates generally to a germ protector for a telecommunications device comprising a body portion having at least one open portion for receiving the telecommunications device, the body portion being flexible to conform to the telecommunications device; wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the body portion is coated with a decontaminant.

A second aspect relates generally to a method for preventing the spread of contaminants through a telecommunications device comprising: reaching a hand through an open portion of a flexible body; grabbing a telecommunications device with the flexible body; and pulling the telecommunications device substantially into the flexible body such that the outer surface of the flexible body becomes the inner surface of the flexible body.

A third aspect relates generally to a germ protector for a telecommunication device, the telecommunications device being located in a jail or prison, the telecommunications device being accessible by a number of guards or inmates, the telecommunications devices including an ear piece, mouth piece, handle and cord, comprising: a flexible body portion having at least one open portion and an inner surface; the flexible body portion configured to encompass the ear piece, mouth piece, and handle of the telecommunication device, the flexible body portion capable of substantially conforming to the handle of the telecommunications device; a first open portion of the at least one open portion configured to encircle the cord of the telecommunications device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this disclosure contains many specific details, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the technology herein described. The scope of the technology shall in no way be construed as being limited to the number of constituting components, the concentration of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, the temperature employed, the order of combination of constituents thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as examples. The depictions and schemes shown herein are intended for illustrative purposes and shall in no way be construed as being limiting in the number of constituting components, connectivity, reaction steps, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, the order of reaction steps thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an aid for understanding.

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1Adepicts an embodiment of guard100. Embodiments of a guard100may be a guard, a germ barrier, a cover, a reusable cover, a disposable liner, a liner, a slip, a barrier, a protector, and the like, or any device that is configured to surround or otherwise guard/protect a telecommunications device. Embodiments of guard100may include body portion105that can be configured to enclose, surround, cover, conform to, house, or otherwise protect a telecommunications device150, such as a phone. Embodiments of the telecommunication device150may be a telephone, a shared phone, a public phone, a pay phone, an office phone, a portable phone, and the like. Embodiments of the telecommunications device150may include an ear piece151, a mouth piece152, and a handle portion153; embodiments of the ear piece151and the mouth piece152may comprise or form part of the handle portion153. Embodiments of body portion105may have an open portion110. The open portion110may be configured to allow the telecommunications device150and potentially a portion of a cord154to pass therethrough and enter an interior of the guard100. An inner surface140of body portion105may include a decontaminant. For example, the inner surface140may be coated, treated, soaked, and/or sprayed with a decontaminant. Where only inner surface140includes a decontaminant, body portion105may include an indication162as to which surface is the inner surface140, which includes the decontaminant. With such an indication, a user of guard100can avoid contacting the decontaminant. In alternative embodiments, the outer surface141of the body portion105, or both the inner surface140and the outer surface141of body portion105may include a decontaminant. In some embodiments, a decontaminant may be Oasis spray solution. In further embodiments, neither the inner surface nor the outer surface of body portion105have a decontaminant140, and the surface of the guard100acts as the barrier to germs and/or hazardous material. In additional embodiments, the inner surface140includes a decontaminant and the outer surface141of body portion105includes a pleasant scent. In some embodiments, the presence of the pleasant scent can indicate that the guard100does not need to be changed, while the lack of the pleasant scent can indicate that the guard100needs to be changed.

Furthermore, guard100may be made as a single, unitary piece of material. For instance, embodiments of guard100may be constructed from any suitably flexible material, e.g., sheet vinyl, polyethylene, or any other suitable flexible material. In alternative embodiments, guard100is made from two or more pieces of flexible material that are affixed or adhered together to form body portion105. For example, body portion105may be formed from two pieces of flexible material that are adhered together. In some embodiments, body portion105may be made from a material that is durable enough to be used as a barrier on a telecommunications device but fragile enough so that body portion105cannot be used to store or hide materials, such as contraband. This embodiment may be particularly useful in a prison or jail setting. In some embodiments, guard100may be rectangular and/or have one or more linear ends and/or edges. For example, guard100may include a linear end160and a linear edge161. In alternative embodiments, guard100may be shaped to conform to a standard telephone receiver, or at least significantly or fully cover a standard telephone. For example, a portion of the body portion105of guard100that is configured to fit around handle153may have a smaller diameter than the portion of body portion105that is configured to fit around ear piece151and mouth piece152. Such a configuration can minimize movement of body portion105over telecommunications device150during use. In alternative embodiments, body portion105may be curved or otherwise manipulated to conform to the handle153, mouthpiece152, and ear piece151when in use. Body portion105may or may not include any edges.

In some embodiments, guard100may be manufactured and sold for disposable use. In these embodiments, before use of a telecommunications device by a user, the user may apply a new guard100to the telecommunication device150. When the user is finished using the device, the guard100can be removed and disposed of In some embodiments, guard100may be changed regularly after a specific amount of time has elapsed or after a certain number of uses. Alternatively, guard100may be replaced after each use. In an alternative embodiment, guard100may be replaced after a staff member assigned to a specific desk or location goes off-duty or is assigned to a new desk or location. In this embodiment, guard100may include an indication163, such as a symbol or color, indicating that a particular guard is to be used by a specific person or group of people. Other guards100would include a different indication to indicate that that guard100was to be used by a different person or group of people. In further embodiments, the indication may be a pleasing or popular image or design. In this way, guard100on a telecommunications device would not have to be changed after each use, but would still operate to reduce the transmission of contaminants. In other words, embodiments of guard100may be disposable, reusable after decontamination, and the like. Guard100may be sold in packages containing multiple guards.

FIG. 1Bdepicts a back view of an embodiment of guard100, which includes an open portion110. In some embodiments, open portion110may be configured such that telecommunications device150can fit therethrough. In further embodiments, open portion110may reside on linear end160. In still further embodiments, open portion110may extend across an entire linear end160of body portion105, or may extend across an entire linear end160and up adjacent linear edge161of body portion105making it easier to place the telecommunications device150therethrough. In further embodiments, body portion105may include more than one open portion110. In alternative embodiments, open portion110may reside on a curved edge or on a surface of body portion105.

Guard100may be dispensed such that it is easy for a user to place their hand through open portion110, grab telecommunications device150, and pull telecommunications device150back through open portion110such that guard100can be applied to telecommunications device150without the user having to make contact with telecommunications device150. Decontaminant140could be placed accordingly. In alternative embodiments, the user of telecommunications device150may be wearing protective gloves, such as latex gloves. In these embodiments, the user of telecommunications device150applies guard100to telecommunications device150with his hands. In these embodiments, guard100prevents the transmission of containments to the user's face, nose, mouth and ears during operation of telecommunications device150.

Referring toFIGS. 1A-1B, a method of providing a barrier to germs and/or hazardous materials for a telecommunications device may include the steps of retrieving a guard100, and placing telecommunications device150therein. In some embodiments, telecommunications device150may be inserted into guard150through open portion110. In alternative embodiments, guard100may be wrapped around telecommunications device150and sealed or affixed to form body portion105.

In some embodiments, body portion105may include a filter portion to remove contaminants. In some embodiments with a filter portion, sound may be less distorted when traveling through guard100. The filter portion may comprise one or more commercially available filters. The filter portion may be located at any location on body portion105. In some embodiments, the filter portion will be placed on body portion105so as to cover ear piece151and/or mouth piece152. The filter portions may be permanently placed in body portion105or may be removable from body portion105. In some embodiments, filter portions may be replaceable thereby extending the life of guard100.

The present invention is disclosed above by preferred embodiments. However, persons skilled in the art should understand that the preferred embodiments are illustrative of the present invention only, and should not be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Hence, all equivalent modification and replacements made to the aforesaid embodiments should fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the legal protection for the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.