Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and device for sanitizing a user&#39;s hands prior to the user being granted access to an area. A barrier restricts access to a particular area without sanitization of the user&#39;s hands. A locking finger of the present invention prevents opening of the barrier. The locking finger adjusts between an allow access position and a prevent access position to prevent a user from passing the barrier without adjusting the locking finger to the allow access position. To open the barrier, a user must adjust an access arm from a lock position to an unlock position to adjust the position of the locking finger. The user pivots the access arm towards the barrier if the barrier is opened by pushing the barrier. The user pivots the access arm away from a barrier that requires to be pulled upon. The pivoting of the access arm releases a cleaning substance to the user&#39;s hands pivoting the access arm requiring the user to sanitize his hands before accessing the area beyond the barrier.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to maintaining a sterile and sanitized environment by enforcing personal sanitization and hygiene. More particularly, the present invention relates to sanitization in public settings including but not limited to healthcare settings, restaurants, public restrooms, and other locations where disease and germs may be spread. The cost of fighting hospital acquired infections is estimated to be at least $30 billion per year. The drug-resistant forms of these infections, such as MRSA, can cost $30,000 per case to combat. Sadly, these infections kill more than 90,000 Americans every year. MRSA kills around 18,000 people every year. Most of these infections are transferred from patient to patient on surfaces that are not sanitized, particularly on the hands of people such as staff and visitors. 
     The present invention provides a simple method that mechanically ensures that a person sanitizes his/her hands. Unclean hands assist in the spread of infections. Thus, unclean hands cost patients, hospitals and insurance companies a large sum of money combating such infections. The present invention ensures sterilization of the user&#39;s hands and prevents the introduction and spread of infections from a user&#39;s hands. The present invention also creates an economic benefit by reducing the costs associated with combating such infections. 
     Restaurants and healthcare settings such as hospitals have hygiene requirements that require their staff and employees to clean their hands. Often, restaurants and hospitals rely on an honor type system to remind the employees and staff to wash their hands. Signs also remind users to clean their hands. Even with the mandatory requirements and signs, users continue to improperly wash their hands. Furthermore, many users only rinse their hands with water that does not properly sanitize the user&#39;s hands. 
     II. Description of the Known Art 
     Patents and patent applications disclosing information relevant to hygienic systems are disclosed below. These patents and patent applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,742 issued to Stropkay on Dec. 2, 2008 (“the &#39;742 patent”) teaches a door handle and liquid dispensing apparatus including a housing configured to attach to an associated door and a porous material. The housing taught by the &#39;742 patent at least partially defines a reservoir configured to hold a liquid for cleaning a person&#39;s hand when the person opens the associated door. The porous material is disposed in and extends from the reservoir. A portion of the porous material is disposed adjacent a location typically touched by the person&#39;s hand when opening the associate door. 
     The invention taught by the &#39;742 patent is configured to provide hand sanitizing and/or hand cleaning liquid, which includes lotion, to a person whether the person pushes against the assembly 10 to open the door or pulls the assembly 10 to open the door. The assembly 10 taught by the &#39;742 patent is described as a “door handle” assembly; however, the term “door handle” or “handle” is not limited to simply a bar that is grasped and pulled to open the door to which the bar is attached. The term “door handle” or “handle” as used in the &#39;742 patent refers to a portion of the assembly that is typically touched by the person&#39;s hand when opening the door, whether it be by pushing or pulling the door. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,044,904 issued to Heisig on Jun. 23, 1936 (“the &#39;904 patent”) teaches a means for automatically supplying to the hands of the user a restricted and minute amount of a liquid antiseptic as an instant of the user rotating the knob. The &#39;904 patent teaches two liquid containing compartments filled with a watery solution of a suitable antiseptic, preferably by the use of a pressure syringe into discharge vents which in this case function as filling vents and the liquid as intruded raised in the compartment. The &#39;904 patent teaches when a user passes his fingers across the outer face of the vent incidental to rotating the knob the operator withdraws through the vent, apparently by a frictional or perhaps by an adhesion action, a minute quantity of the antiseptic solution. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,600 issued to Davis on Feb. 29, 2000 (“the &#39;600 patent”) teaches a device for assuring that restroom users are effectively reminded to wash and cleanse their hands. The &#39;600 patent teaches a spray pump attached adjacent to an exterior door-handle to a restroom and is activated either by the turning of the handle or by the opening of the door. The spray pump taught by the &#39;600 patent includes a spray nozzle which sprays the user&#39;s front palm and/or back of the hand with a dye stain when the door-handle is opened. The &#39;600 patent teaches that the dye stain is non-toxic fast drying and easily washable with cleanser such as soap and water. The dye stain taught by the &#39;600 patent can be visible in natural light and include colors such as red, yellow, blue and the like. Alternatively, the dye stain taught by the &#39;600 patent can be only visible to infrared light. The device taught by the &#39;600 patent can be used with round circular door-handles and lever door-handles. The &#39;600 patent teaches that a shield around the door handle can discourage attempts to defeat the staining. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,144 issued to Bogstad on Jan. 23, 1990 (“the &#39;144 patent”) teaches a warning system adapted to warn someone to wash their hands prior to leaving or entering a facility in which hand washing is important. The &#39;144 patent teaches a system that includes a door activated system that can be either visible or audible or both and can include a door locking system and a remote signalling system. The warning system taught by the &#39;144 patent is armed when the door is opened to permit entry into the facility and is de-activated upon the acutation of hand-washing facilities. In one embodiment, the system taught by the &#39;144 patent is used in a bathroom and the warning system can be activated by the flushing of a toilet. 
     The &#39;144 patent also teaches that the consequences of not washing one&#39;s hands after using the bathroom are so dire as to require extreme measures to ensure that hands are always washed after using the bathroom. In such extreme situations, the &#39;144 patent teaches that the door 12 can be locked after entry and only unlocked after the hand washing facilities have been used. The control unit 36 and the ingress and egress signaling systems taught by the &#39;144 patent can be used to carry out this function. For this, the system 10 taught by the &#39;144 patent includes a door locking element 80 on the door frame and connected to the control unit 36 via a line connector 82 and adapted to co-operate with a locking mechanism 84 on the door to prevent opening of the door unless the hand washing facilities have been activated. The &#39;144 patent teaches that upon activating a hand-washing facility, a signal can be sent to the control unit 36 to unlock the door via the just-described door locking system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,478 issued to Guinn on Jul. 6, 1976 (“the &#39;478 patent”) teaches an apparatus for unlatching a door to a hygienic area actuated by sensor electrodes in contact with the electrolytic residue of a cleansing agent upon the hand or limb of a person desiring access to the hygienic area. The &#39;478 patent teaches that the personnel desiring entry must have washed or cleansed his hands or arms or other limbs with the required germicidal cleansing agent, such as soap, which will normally leave a sufficient electrolytic residue on his hand to establish a current between the electrodes when the hand is placed in contact with both electrodes. The &#39;478 patent teaches that the current established through the electrolytic residue and the electrodes will then actuate the switch device to close the circuit through the coil of the electromagnetic bolt mechanism for unlatching the door, thereby permitting entry to the hygienic area. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,817 issued to Heropoulus on Jul. 2, 1968 (“the &#39;817 patent”) teaches a holder body having inlet and outlet passages, means for detachably securing an aerosol container in communication with the inlet passage and means for securing fluid dispersing means to the outlet passage and actuator means in the body for engaging and opening the aerosol valve when a door is opened. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,756 issued to Levy et al. on Sep. 20, 1966 (“the &#39;756 patent”) teaches a device for the automatic treatment of the air in a room and, more particularly to a device for the automatic spraying of the air in a room, as with a sterilizing, de-odorizing or perfuming spray. The &#39;756 patent teaches that when the frame containing a dispenser is in place and the door is opened, the top edge of the door will engage the projecting resilient strip and will move and offset it and the bar extension outwardly and upwardly to clear the door top without any difficulty and without any effect on the pressure dispenser. However, when the door is closed, its edge will engage against the outer face of the strip projection and press it inwardly towards the frame, causing the strip and the bar extension to which it is attached to be pushed towards the supporting frame and thereby lowering the bar section and its extension onto the nozzle head, to depress the same, causing a discharge of spray through the valve of the pressure dispenser that is opened by such nozzle head movement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,553 issued to Cunningham on Sep. 15, 1998 (“the &#39;553 patent”) teaches an apparatus for unlocking the door to a hygienic area formed by a circuit having a pair of series connected, normally open push button switches disposed in spaced apart relation at lateral limits of a lavatory. The &#39;553 patent teaches that when the switch buttons are simultaneously depressed for a predetermined time, as by the little finger of each hand of a worker, soap sprays from overhead spray heads on the worker&#39;s hands, and after the predetermined time delay, unlocks the door. 
     The &#39;553 patent teaches that upon the entry, the door automatically locks behind the worker and will not open until a certain sequence of steps are performed by the worker using the facilities. The &#39;553 patent teaches that the worker, using both little fingers of his hands, pushes dual buttons on opposite sides of a lavatory simultaneously which sprays a quantity of disinfectant soap on his hands and closes a circuit and unlocking the door. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,418 issued to Sassoon on Jan. 22, 2008 (“the &#39;418 patent”) teaches controlled sanitizing by dispensing a germicide, such as a disinfectant, antibacterial solution or cleansing agent at intervals. The system taught by the &#39;418 patent can include a housing sized to seat an aerosol can and a control circuit that operates to momentarily open a valve on the aerosol can through action of a gear system upon an aerosol delivery tube. The &#39;418 patent teaches a sensor that responds to displacement of the delivery tube to deliver state signals to the control circuit. The control circuit taught by the &#39;418 patent prevents action of the gear system in the event that the state signals fail at least one prescribed condition. The &#39;418 patent also teaches a method that registers at least the displacement of the delivery tube via the sensor and prevents subsequent displacements and hence subsequent sanitizing in the event that the sensor has not registered at least the displacement of the delivery tube. The method taught by the &#39;418 patent ensures that a suitable aerosol can has been properly loaded in the dispenser. The &#39;418 patent also teaches that the motor actuation cycle can be suppressed if certain external conditions are detected such as the presence of a hand of a person in the vicinity of the sanitizer unit 200. 
     Therefore, the present invention is needed to improve sanitization, hygiene, and cleanliness. The present invention is also needed to sterilize the user&#39;s hands to maintain a clean environment. The present invention is also needed to require a person to clean his hands before passing through a barrier to access a particular area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method and device for sanitizing a user&#39;s hands prior to the user being granted access to an area. The present invention utilizes a cleaning substance including but not limited to disinfecting solutions, disinfectants, antibacterial solutions, germicidal solutions, hand cleaners, hand cleaner preparations, skin cleanser, soap, antimicrobial and antibacterial lotion soap, instant hand sanitizers, instant hand disinfectants, and other known cleansers. The present invention prevents the opening of a barrier including but not limited to a door, gateway, gate, a passageway, as well as to other doors leading to other locations where it might be desirable to require cleaning of a user&#39;s hands prior to entering the area. The present invention may be utilized in areas that require sterile conditions or in areas in which cleanliness is needed or recommended such as hospitals, kitchens, restrooms, etc. 
     The present invention utilizes a barrier that prevents people from accessing certain areas. The barrier promotes sterile conditions within areas by restricting access to areas to only those people who have cleaned their hands. The present invention requires cleaning of the hands prior to granting access to the areas by preventing the barrier from opening until an amount of cleaning substance is applied to the user&#39;s hands. A locking finger of the present invention prevents opening of the barrier. The locking finger adjusts between an allow access position and a prevent access position. The locking finger in the allow access position allows a user to open the barrier. The locking finger in the prevent access position prevents the barrier from opening when the barrier is in the closed position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking finger is biased to the prevent access position. 
     The present invention also provides an access arm that adjusts between a lock position and an unlock position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the access arm is biased to a lock position. The access arm has two ends, a free end and an attached end. The free end of the access arm pivots in relation to the attached end of the access arm to adjust the access arm between the lock position and the unlock position. Pivoting of the access arm adjusts the position of the locking finger. Adjustment of the access arm to the lock position places the locking finger in a prevent access position. Adjustment of the access arm to the unlock position places the locking finger in an allow access position. 
     The present invention also provides a container that stores a cleaning substance. The container has a dispensing aperture from which the cleaning substance is released from the container. The container may also include a nozzle extending from the container with the dispensing aperture. The present invention releases the cleaning substance from the dispensing aperture when the access arm is pivoted to the unlock position. The dispensing aperture releases the cleaning substance such that the cleaning substance contacts the user&#39;s hands pivoting the access arm. By releasing the cleaning substance when the access arm is pivoted to the unlock position, the present invention releases the cleaning substance onto a user&#39;s hands while a user attempts to access the area being restricted by the barrier. 
     The present invention also teaches a method for mechanically preventing access to an area that requires a user to pass a barrier prior to entering an area. The present invention restricts access to the area to only those who have passed the barrier. A locking finger of the present invention in the prevent access position prevents the barrier from adjusting to an open position that allows users to pass through the barrier. The present invention requires a user to pivot a free end of an access arm to adjust the access arm from a lock position to an unlock position. The present invention then releases an amount of cleaning substance towards the access arm to contact the hands of the user who has pivoted the access arm. The pivoting of the access arm adjusts the locking finger from the prevent access position to the allow access position. The locking finger in the allow access position allows the barrier to move to the open position to allow a user to pass through the barrier. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and system to assist in the application of a cleansing substance to a user. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to maintain cleanliness. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to prevent access to areas prior to proper cleaning. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to minimize the spread of infection and disease. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to ensure compliance with hygiene standards. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is another left side view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is another left side view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is another sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is another sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an environmental view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an environmental view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view thereof; 
         FIG. 15  is another sectional view thereof; 
         FIG. 16  is an environmental view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a left side view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is another left side view thereof; 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  is another sectional view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dispenser of one embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as  102 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , container  104  mounts to barrier  100 . In other embodiments, the container  104  may be mounted elsewhere as long as the container  104  can supply the cleaning substance to a user&#39;s hands. Barrier  100  prevents access to the area beyond barrier  100 . Barrier  100  restricts access beyond barrier  100  to those who have had the cleaning substance released into their hands. Barriers include but are not limited to a door, gateway, gate, a passageway, as well as to other doors leading to other locations where it might be desirable to require cleaning of a user&#39;s hands prior to entering the area. 
     The present invention utilizes an access arm  108  to grant access beyond the barrier  100 . Access arm  108  has two ends, an attachment end  110  and a free end  112 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the attachment end  110  of access arm  108  is pivotally attached to container  104 . In another embodiment, the attachment end  110  of access arm  108  is pivotally attached to barrier  100 . The free end  112  of access arm  108  pivots in relation to attached end  110  of access arm  108 . The access arm  108  pivots between a lock position and an unlock position which will be discussed below. As the access arm  108  pivots to the unlock position, dispensing aperture  106  releases an amount of a cleaning substance to be applied to the hands of the user that pivots the access arm  108 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention provides contact body  114  for a person to push or pull depending upon the type of barrier  100  to be opened. 
     Because some barriers  100  are hinged to swing in one direction, the present invention provides different dispensers that assist opening the barrier when the barrier requires to be pushed or whether the barrier requires to be pulled. Different embodiments of the dispenser  102  depicted in  FIG. 1  are configured to provide a cleaning substance to a person whether the person pushes or pulls the barrier open. The different embodiments of the present invention release a cleaning substance and adjust the locking finger to the allow access position whether the user pushes against the access arm  108  to open the barrier  100  or pulls the access arm  120  to open the barrier  100 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show one embodiment of the present invention that opens the barrier  100  when the user pivots access arm  108  towards barrier  100  to the unlock position.  FIG. 2  shows access arm  108  in the locked position. Access arm  108  pivots towards barrier  100 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , access arm  108  is pivotally attached at attachment end  110 . In one embodiment of the present invention, attachment end  110  of access arm  108  is pivotally attached to container  104 . In another embodiment, access arm  108  is pivotally attached to barrier  100 . Attachment end  110  of access arm  108  may be attached in other manners. Attachment end  110 ,  122  of access arm  108 ,  120  is attached in relation to barrier  100  such that pivoting of the free end  112 ,  124  of access arm  108 ,  120  towards or away from barrier  100  assists a user in opening barrier  100 . In this embodiment, access arm  108  is biased away from the door to the lock position. Access arm  108  pivots from the lock position in  FIG. 3  towards the barrier  100  to the unlock position shown in  FIG. 4 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , access arm  108  provides contact body  114  to be pushed by a person opening the barrier  100 . To open the barrier  100 , the user pivots the access arm  108  toward barrier  100  to push barrier  100  open. Pivoting access arm  108  towards the barrier  100  to the unlock position as shown in  FIG. 4  releases an amount of cleaning substance  118  from dispensing aperture  106 . In one embodiment of the present invention, nozzle  116  extends through access arm  108  to release cleaning substance  118  from dispensing aperture  106 . The present invention utilizes known pumps and aerosol containers, as used in known substance dispensers, to release the cleaning substance from the dispensing aperture. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show another embodiment of the present invention that requires a user to pivot access arm  120  away from barrier  100  to open the barrier  100 . Similar to access arm  108 , access arm  120  has two ends, attachment end  122  and free end  124 . Access arm  120  functions similarly to access arm  108  in that access arm  120  pivots towards and away from barrier  100 . Attachment end  122  of access arm  120  is pivotally attached such that free end  124  of access arm  120  pivots towards and away from the barrier  100  to assist the user in opening barrier  100 . In one embodiment, attachment end  122  of access arm  120  is pivotally attached to container  104 . In another embodiment, attachment end  122  of access arm is pivotally attached to the barrier  100 . Similar to access arm  108 , attachment end  122  of access arm  120  may be attached in other manners. Attachment end  122  of access arm is attached in relation to barrier  100  such that pivoting of access arm  120  away from barrier  100  assists a user in opening barrier  100 .  FIG. 5  shows attachment arm  120  in the lock position.  FIG. 6  shows access arm  120  pivoted away from barrier  100  to the unlock position to allow opening of barrier  100 . In this embodiment, free end  124  of access arm  120  is biased towards the door to the lock position. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , access arm  120  provides contact body  126  to be grasped by a person to pivot free end  124  of access arm  120  away from barrier  100  to open the barrier  100 . To open the barrier, the user pivots the access arm  124  away from barrier  100  to pull barrier  100  open. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show a cutaway view of access arm  108  adjusting the locking finger  132  between the prevent access position to the allow access position.  FIG. 7  shows the locking finger  132  in the prevent access position.  FIG. 8  shows locking finger  132  in the allow access position. In this embodiment, adjustment arm  128  is attached to access arm  108 . As a user pivots access arm  108  towards barrier  100  in a pushing motion, access arm  108  forces adjustment arm  128  through barrier aperture  136  of barrier  100  and adjustment aperture  144  of locking finger  132 . Adjustment finger  130  of adjustment arm  128  enters adjustment aperture  144  forcing locking roller  134  to move across adjustment finger  130 . The movement of locking roller  134  adjusts locking finger  132  to the allow access position shown in  FIG. 8 . Continuing to refer to  FIG. 7 , spring  138  biases the locking finger to the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 7 . The force applied through adjustment finger  130  causes locking roller  134  to overcome the force of spring  138  to place locking finger  132  into the allow access position shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show a cutaway view of access arm  108  adjusting the locking finger  132  between the prevent access position to the allow access position.  FIG. 9  shows locking finger  132  in the prevent access position.  FIG. 10  shows locking finger  132  in the allow access position. In this embodiment, adjustment arm  140  is attached to access arm  120 . As a user pivots access arm  120  away from barrier  100  in a pulling motion, access arm  120  forces adjustment arm  140  through barrier aperture  136  of barrier  100  and adjustment aperture  144  of locking finger  132 . Unlike access arm  108 , access arm  120  pulls adjustment arm  140  through adjustment aperture  144 . Adjustment finger  142  of adjustment arm  140  forces locking roller  134  to move across adjustment finger  142  to adjust locking finger  132  to the allow access position shown in  FIG. 10 . Spring  138  biases the locking finger to the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 9 . The force applied through adjustment finger  142  causes locking roller  134  to overcome the force of spring  138  to place locking finger  132  into the allow access position shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , locking finger  132  retracts into locking aperture  133  when the locking finger  132  is adjusted to the allow access position. Locking finger  132  extends from the locking aperture  133  when locking finger  132  is adjusted to the prevent access position. When extending from locking aperture  133 , locking finger  132  is adapted to enter a receiving aperture on an adjacent wall, door frame, door jamb, latch, etc. Reception of the locking finger  132  in receiving aperture prevents the barrier from adjusting from the closed position to the open position. To open the barrier, locking finger  132  must be adjusted to the allow access position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , locking finger  132  provides adjustment aperture  144  for adjustment arm  128 , adjustment finger  130 , adjustment arm  140 , and adjustment finger  142  to pass through locking finger  132  for adjustment of locking finger  132 . Adjustment arms  128 ,  140  have two ends, one end attached to access arm  108 ,  120 , and the other end serving as adjustment finger  130 ,  142 . Adjustment finger  130 ,  142  retains locking finger  132  within locking aperture  133 . Adjustment finger  130 ,  142  also provides an inclined segment that allows movement of locking roller  134  across adjustment arms  128 ,  140  and adjustment fingers  130 ,  142 . The movement of locking roller  134  across adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  forces locking finger  132  to either extend from or retract into locking aperture  133 . Locking roller  134  adjusts the position of the locking finger  132  through movement over the inclined section of adjustment finger  130 ,  142 . As adjustment arms  128 ,  140  move through adjustment aperture  144 , locking roller  134  contacts different areas of adjustment arms  128 ,  140  and adjustment fingers  130 ,  142 . Adjustment arms  128 ,  140  and adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  force locking finger  132  to adjust between the prevent access position and the allow access position. Adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  adjust the position of locking finger  132  within barrier  100  to allow for closing and opening barrier  100  to restrict access. Adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  operate independently to open barrier  100 . Adjustment finger  130  moves independently in relation to adjustment finger  142 . Likewise, adjustment finger  142  moves independently in relation to adjustment finger  130 . The independence of adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  allows opening of the barrier without releasing the cleaning substance on both sides of the barrier. 
     Movement of locking roller  134  across the inclined segment of adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  force locking finger  132  to retract into locking aperture  133  or extend from locking aperture  133 . As shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the shape of adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  vary according to whether access arm is to be pushed as in  FIGS. 7 and 8  or pulled as in  FIGS. 9-10 . The shape of adjustment fingers  130 ,  142  bias the locking finger  132  between a prevent access position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9  and an allow access position shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10  depending upon the movement of adjustment fingers  130 ,  142 . Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the free end  112  of access arm  108  pivoted towards the barrier  100  to the unlock position causes adjustment arm  128  and adjustment finger  130  to pass through adjustment aperture  144 . Locking roller  134  moves across the inclined section of adjustment finger  130  causing locking finger to retract within locking aperture  133  to the allow access position. One embodiment of the present invention biases the free end  112  of access arm  108  to pivot away from barrier  100  to the lock position. The biasing of access arm  108  away from the barrier causes movement of the locking roller  134  down the inclined section of adjustment finger  130 . Movement of locking roller  134  down the inclined section of adjustment finger  130  adjusts locking finger  132  to the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the free end  124  of access arm  120  pivoted away from barrier  100  to the unlock position causes adjustment arm  140  and adjustment finger  142  to pass through adjustment aperture  144 . Locking roller  134  moves across the inclined section of locking finger  142  causing locking finger  132  to retract within locking aperture  133  to the allow access position. One embodiment of the present invention biases the free end  124  of access arm  120  toward barrier  100  to the lock position. The biasing of access arm  120  toward the barrier causes movement of the locking roller  134  down the inclined section of adjustment finger  142 . Movement of locking roller  134  down the inclined section of adjustment finger  142  adjusts locking finger  132  to the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIGS. 12-15  show another embodiment of the present invention that allows existing barriers to be retrofitted with the present invention.  FIG. 12  shows a barrier  100  with a push plate  156 . To open barrier  100  shown in  FIG. 12 , the user pushes the push plate  156  towards the barrier  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the present invention prevents access beyond barrier  100  by limiting the area of push plate  100  exposed to the user. Guarding bodies  158 ,  160  prevent access to push plate  156 . 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show the operation of access arm  148  contacting push plate  156  to open barrier  100 . To contact push plate  156  to open barrier  100 , a user must push access arm  148  towards push plate  156 . Similar to the embodiments described above, access arm  148  has two ends, attachment end  150  and free end  152 . This embodiment of the present invention also provides contact body  154  to assist the user in pivoting the access arm  148  towards the barrier  100  to contact push plate  156 . A user pivots the free end  152  of access arm  148  until it contacts push plate  156  and adequately depresses the push plate  156  to open the barrier  100  as shown in  FIG. 15 . Cleaning substance is stored within container  146 . A dispensing aperture  157  of container  146  releases the cleaning substance from the container  146  as the user opens barrier  100 . The pivoting of access arm  148  causes the present invention to release the cleaning substance to the hands of the user. 
       FIG. 16  shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a barrier  160  is installed in frame  174 ,  176 . Container  163  holds a cleaning substance. Cleaner pathway  164  may be a hose, line, tube, pipe, or other conduit to allow cleaning substance to be released near a user&#39;s hands when opening barrier  160 . Similar to previously described embodiments, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16  provides access arm  166  for opening barrier  160 . Access arm  166  has two ends, attachment end  168  and free end  170 . Similarly, access arm  166  provides contact body  172  for pivoting access arm  166  towards or away from barrier  160 . As described above, access arm  166  can be pivoted either towards or away from barrier  160  depending on whether the barrier must be pushed or pulled to be opened. As described above, access arm adjusts a locking finger between an prevent access position and an allow access position. Similarly, locking finger is adapted to enter a receiving aperture to maintain barrier  160  in the closed position. In this embodiment, container  162  supplies both sides of barrier  164 . Other embodiments of the present invention described herein can be supplied with cleaning substance from a single container. 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  show a different embodiment of the present invention that utilizes locking finger  182  that is guided to a receiving aperture such as a notch to prevent barrier  100  from opening. Similar to the above described embodiments, the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  provide access arm  184  with attachment end  186  and free end  188  and container  178  storing the cleaning substance. This embodiment also provides contacting body  192  for assisting the user in pivoting access arm  184  towards or away from the barrier. This embodiment of the present invention provides access arm  184  that is connected to an adjustment arm which in this instance is lifting arm  180 . Lifting arm  180  pivots according to movement of access arm  184 . Lifting arm  180  raises locking finger  182  from the notch to allow the barrier to be opened. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  show a dispenser that releases cleaning substance as access arm  184  is pushed towards a barrier.  FIG. 17  shows access arm in the lock position and lifting arm  180  in the prevent access position.  FIG. 18  shows access arm  184  in the unlock position and lifting arm  180  in the allow access position. Pivoting access arm  184  to the unlock position causes this embodiment to release cleaning substance from dispensing aperture  192 . This embodiment of the present invention may also include nozzle  194 . Pivoting access arm  184  to the unlock position also causes lifting arm  180  to raise locking finger  182  to open the barrier. 
     The present invention also provides an embodiment that requires a user to pivot the access arm away from barrier prior allowing access beyond barrier. Pivoting access arm away from the barrier also releases cleaning substance. This embodiment requires a user to pivot access arm similarly as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this embodiment, pivoting the free end of access arm away from barrier to the unlock position causes lifting arm to raise locking finger  182  to open the barrier. Pivoting of the access arm to the unlock position also causes dispensing aperture to release the cleaning substance. 
       FIGS. 19 and 20  show another embodiment of the present invention that utilizes a different method of adjusting locking finger  212 . As described above, locking finger  212  moves within locking aperture  214  of barrier  216  to open and close barrier  216 . As described above, adjustment arms  196 ,  202  attach to an access arm that causes a cleaning substance to be released to a user as the user pivots the access arm towards or away from barrier  216 . Adjustment arms  196 ,  202  pivotally attach to adjustment body  210  at attachment elbows  198 ,  204 . Adjustment arms  196 ,  202  provide adjustment fingers  200 ,  206  respectively. Adjustment fingers  200 ,  206  contact locking bit  208 . Locking bit  208  extends from locking arm  212  to allow adjustment arms  198 ,  204  and adjustment fingers  200 ,  206  to adjust locking finger  212  between the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 18  and the allow access position shown in  FIG. 19 . Adjustment fingers  200 ,  206  cause locking finger  212  to withdraw into locking aperture  214  to the allow access position and extend from locking aperture  214  to the prevent access position. Adjustment fingers  200 ,  206  operate independently to open barrier  216 . Adjustment finger  200  moves independently in relation to adjustment finger  206 . Likewise, adjustment finger  206  moves independently in relation to adjustment finger  200 . The independence of adjustment fingers  200 ,  206  allows opening of the barrier without releasing the cleaning substance on both sides of the barrier. 
     As adjustment arm  196  pivots toward barrier  216 , adjustment finger  200  forces locking bit  208  further within locking aperture  214 . The movement of locking bit  208  withdrawing into locking aperture  214  causes locking finger  212  to also withdraw into locking aperture  214 . As shown in the transition from  FIG. 19  to  FIG. 20 , adjustment arm  196  pivots towards barrier  216 . Adjustment finger  200  forces locking bit  208  and locking finger  212  to withdraw into locking aperture  214  to adjust locking finger  212  from the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 19  to the allow access position shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     As adjustment arm  202  pivots away from barrier  216 , adjustment finger  206  forces locking bit  208  further within locking aperture  214 . The movement of locking bit  208  withdrawing into locking aperture  214  causes locking finger  212  to also withdraw into locking aperture  214 . As shown in the transition from  FIG. 19  to  FIG. 20 , adjustment arm  202  pivots away from barrier  216 . Adjustment finger  206  forces locking bit  208  and locking finger  212  to withdraw into locking aperture  214  to adjust locking finger  212  from the prevent access position shown in  FIG. 19  to the allow access position shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     The present invention also teaches a method for mechanically preventing access to an area that requires a user to pass a barrier prior to entering an area. The present invention restricts access to the area to only those who have passed the barrier. A locking finger of the present invention in the prevent access position prevents the barrier from adjusting to an open position that allows a user to pass through the barrier. The present invention requires a user to pivot a free end of an access arm to adjust the access arm from a lock position to an unlock position. Depending upon the type of barrier, the free end of the access arm may be pivoted towards the barrier or away from the barrier to allow access. For barriers that require a user to push the barrier open, the user must pivot the free end of the access arm towards the barrier to an unlock position. For barriers that require a user to pull the barrier open, the user must pivot the free end of the access arm away from the barrier to an unlock position. Pivoting the free end of the access arm to the unlock position causes the present invention to release an amount of cleaning substance on user&#39;s hands. Pivoting the free end of the access arm to the unlock position adjusts the locking finger from the prevent access position to the allow access position. The locking finger in the allow access position allows the barrier to move to the open position to allow a user to pass through the barrier. In some embodiments, the locking finger is biased to the prevent access position to require the user to clean his hands before allowing access. 
     In one embodiment of the method, the access arm adjusts an adjustment arm that directly contacts the locking finger. When the access arm is pivoted, the access arm changes the position of the adjustment arm. The movement of the adjustment arm changes the position of the locking finger. The adjustment arm manipulates the locking finger to adjust the locking finger between the prevent access position and the allow access position. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention is one well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.