Abstract:
A method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle, including a latch mechanism lever adapted for coupling to a door latch mechanism and a trigger lever coupled to the latch mechanism lever. The latch mechanism lever can be selectively actuated independent of the trigger lever to actuate the door latch mechanism without dispensing sanitizer fluid. The apparatus may further include a sanitizer fluid reservoir and a pump coupled to the trigger lever to control sanitizer fluid flow from the sanitizer fluid reservoir to a nozzle when the trigger lever is actuated, where the nozzle is positioned proximate the latch mechanism lever. Embodiments of the invention may further include a method of use of the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/335,687, filed Jan. 11, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to health care technology and, particularly, to a method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Prevention of harmful diseases is a major concern for governments as well as various enterprises, such as multi-national corporations. If these diseases are not contained, an epidemic may ensue resulting in widespread panic and disorder among the population. For example, health care facilities, such as hospitals, may be overrun with patients straining the available medical professional workforce. In order to ensure a productive work and living environment, various enterprises and governments use various health care technologies, such as a sanitizer fluid, to stop the spread of pathogens that cause the harmful diseases. Such sanitizer fluids are generally dispensed via pump canisters located in bathrooms or via wall mounted pump canisters distributed throughout a building. Such sanitizer availability may not be convenient nor does availability guarantee use of the sanitizer fluid. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid in a very convenient manner, via door handles such that sanitizer fluid is conveniently available throughout a building. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention comprise a method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a latch mechanism lever adapted for coupling to a door latch mechanism and a trigger lever coupled to the latch mechanism lever. The latch mechanism lever can be selectively actuated independent of the trigger lever to actuate the door latch mechanism without dispensing sanitizer fluid. The apparatus further comprises a sanitizer fluid reservoir and a pump coupled to the trigger lever to control sanitizer fluid flow from the sanitizer fluid reservoir to a nozzle when the trigger lever is actuated, where the nozzle is positioned proximate the latch mechanism lever. Embodiments of the invention further comprise a method of use of the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention with the handle levers in a starting position; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with a latch mechanism lever depressed (rotated); 
         FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with both a latch mechanism handle lever and a pump trigger lever depressed (rotated); 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention showing hidden lines; 
         FIG. 5A  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the trigger lever attached to the rear mount plate; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention with the handle levers in the starting position; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention with the handle levers in the starting position; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever in the depressed position; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever in the depressed position; 
         FIG. 10  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever removed and the trigger lever in the starting position; 
         FIG. 11  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever removed and the trigger lever in the depressed position; 
         FIG. 12  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever removed and the trigger lever in the starting position and with hidden lines made visible on the trigger lever and helical cam; 
         FIG. 13  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever removed and the trigger lever in the depressed position and with hidden lines made visible on the trigger lever and the helical cam; 
         FIG. 14  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever removed and the trigger lever in the starting position and with hidden lines made visible on the pump barrel; 
         FIG. 15  depicts an embodiment of the present invention with the latch mechanism lever removed and the trigger lever in the depressed position and with hidden lines made visible on the pump barrel; 
         FIG. 16  depicts an embodiment of the handle and a reservoir that are fitted to a door; and 
         FIG. 17  depicts the handle in an unlatched position, while dispensing sanitizer onto the hand being used to turn the handle according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a device (a handle  50 ) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprising a latch mechanism lever  101  and a trigger lever  102 , which are in a starting position. In the starting position, no mechanisms within the handle  50  are actuated and no sanitizer fluid is released through the nozzle  103 . In one embodiment, a reservoir connection point  104  provides foaming sanitizer liquid to the device  50 . Although foaming sanitizer liquid is described as used in one embodiment of the invention, other types of sanitizing fluids may be dispensed in various forms by the handle  50  including liquids, aerosols, sprays, streams and/or the like. All fluids based on or containing compounds with antibacterial, anti-viral, and/or anti-fungal properties could be used in the device, including but not limited to, ones based on: alcohol; benzochloronate; iodine; silver; silver-nitrate; TRIOSYN; and zinc, as well as combinations and compounds thereof. As described below, the device includes a handle or assembly that is used to unlatch and generally move a door (not shown). 
       FIG. 2  depicts the handle  50  with the latch-mechanism lever  101  depressed. As the latch mechanism lever  101  is rotated clockwise, a latch mechanism in a door is actuated by the movement of the handle spindle (not pictured). The independent rotation of a door latch mechanism  101  through a clockwise motion allows the door to be opened without sanitizer fluid being dispensed from the nozzle  103 . This allows the user of the handle  50  to choose whether or not they wish to have the device dispense sanitizer by means of choosing to depress either the latch mechanism lever  101  alone, or the trigger lever  102  and the latch mechanism lever  101  combined. The placement of the nozzle  103  and the trigger lever  102  is ‘prescriptive’ in that if the user wishes the handle  50  to dispense sanitizer fluid, they must rotate the trigger lever  102  which places their hand directly beneath the nozzle  103 . The system is returned to the starting position by means of the spring force of the door latch (not pictured) and the spring within the foaming pump  402 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts the handle  50  with both the latch-mechanism lever  101  and the trigger lever  102  depressed. As the trigger lever  102  and the latch-mechanism lever  101  are rotated clockwise, a cam mechanism (not pictured) within a body of the handle  50  is actuated causing an internal pump (not pictured) to be depressed. As the pump is depressed, sanitizer fluid is dispersed through foaming elements of the internal pump to the nozzle  103 . The nozzle deposits the sanitizer fluid or foam onto a hand that is actuating the handle  50 . A reservoir couples with the handle  50  and provides a supply of foaming sanitizer fluid via a reservoir connection point  104 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts an exploded view of the handle  50 . A rear mount plate  410  is attached to a door (not shown) via bolts  401 . The pump pin piece  402  fits within the helical slot cam  403  and holds a standard foaming pump  404 . The helical slot cam  403  fits inside the trigger lever  102  and is attached to the rear mount plate  410  by three mounting pins  405  which fit into three mounting pin holes  406  whereas the trigger lever  102  is able to move freely. The trigger lever  102  is fitted into a handle sheath cylinder  407  which is fitted into the rear mount plate  410 . The assembly is then enclosed by the latch mechanism lever  101  which fits over the handle sheath cylinder  407  and holds a handle spindle  408  which attaches to a conventional door latch mechanism within the door (not pictured). A reservoir, as described in the present disclosure with respect to  FIG. 16 , is connected to the foaming pump  404  via a plastic tube  420  routed through the connection port  409 , through a routing hole  503  in the trigger lever  102 , through the helical slot cam  403 , which is fitted inside the body of the trigger lever  102  and into the foaming pump  404 . As described in detail below, a pin  1001  interacts with a slot  422  in the helical slot cam  403  and a slot  702  in the trigger lever  102  to manipulate the pump  404 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts an exploded view of the handle  50  with the hidden detail shown. The pin slots  501  in the handle sheath cylinder  407 , allow the latch mechanism lever  101  and the handle sheath cylinder  407  assembly to rotate the spindle  408  which is held by a push fit into a cavity  502  in the handle sheath cylinder  407  causing the door latch (not pictured) to open without actuating the pump mechanism. 
       FIG. 5A  depicts an assembled view of the trigger lever  102 , with the helical slot cam  403  disposed within, coupled to the rear mount plate  410 . The connection port  409  leads to the routing hole  503  in the trigger lever  102 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a front elevation view of the handle  50  with the trigger lever  102  and the latch mechanism lever  101  in the starting position. The spindle  408  is clearly in a similar orientation to the latch mechanism lever  101  and the trigger lever  102 —square to the x and y axis. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a side elevation view of the handle  50 . Neither the top nor the underside of the spindle  408  is visible which illustrates the starting position. A slot  702  in the trigger lever piece  701  is unmoved suggesting that the internal cam mechanism assembly is also in the start position. Thus, the pump within remains fully uncompressed. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a front elevation view of the handle  50  with the latch mechanism lever  101  in a depressed position and the trigger lever  102  in the starting position. The spindle  408  is clearly in a similar orientation to the latch mechanism lever  101  having been moved clockwise approximately 45 degrees by the movement of the latch mechanism lever  101 . This movement of the spindle  408  actuates the latch mechanism within the door to which the handle  50  is mounted. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a side elevation view of the handle  50  where the latch mechanism lever  101  is depressed. The handle sheath cylinder  407  and latch mechanism lever  101  has been rotated but the trigger lever  102  remains in the starting position. This has caused the spindle  408 , which is fixed into the handle sheath cylinder  407 , to rotate. The internal cam mechanism, however, is unaffected and remains in the start position as indicated by the non movement of the slot  702  in the trigger lever piece  701 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts the handle  50  where the latch mechanism lever  101  is omitted and the trigger lever  102  is in the starting position. The pin  1001  is at the end of the visible slot  702  in the trigger lever piece  701 . 
       FIG. 11  depicts the handle  50  without the latch mechanism lever  101  and where the trigger lever  102  is in a depressed position. As the trigger lever  102  is rotated clockwise, the edge of the slot  501  in the handle sheath cylinder  407  forces the pin  1001  to move along the slot  702  in the trigger lever  701  in direction Z (arrow). This motion causes the pin  1001  to move along the slot  422  in the helical cam slot piece  403  ( FIG. 4 ). In moving along both of these slots  702  and  422 , the force from the rotation of the trigger lever  102  is transformed into a lateral (linear) movement of the pump pin  1001  in direction Z. This movement forces the top surface of the pump  404  against the inside of the latch mechanism lever  101  which compresses the pump  404  forcing foamed sanitizer to exit the pump nozzle  1101  onto the hand. The pump nozzle  1101  fits within the latch mechanism lever  101  mould allowing the foamed sanitizer to flow from the pump  404  to the nozzle  103 . 
       FIG. 12  depicts the handle  50  without the latch mechanism lever  101  and the pump  404  and where the trigger lever  102  in the starting position. The surface  1201  of the pump pin piece  402  is in the retracted position while the trigger lever  102  is in the starting position and the pin  1001  is at the end of the helical cam slot  1202  and the trigger lever slot  702 . 
       FIG. 13  depicts the handle  50  without the latch mechanism lever  101  and the pump  404 . As the trigger lever  102  is moved into the depressed position, the surface of a pump pin piece  1201  can be seen to have been moved along axis Z as the pin  1001  has moved up the slot  422  in the helical cam slot piece  1202  and the trigger lever  701 . This movement causes the pump  404  to be compressed and sanitizing foam to be forced from the pump  404 . 
       FIG. 14  depicts the handle  50  without the latch mechanism lever  101  and where hidden detail is made visible and the trigger lever  102  is in the original position. Entry/exit point  1401  engages a tube (i.e., reservoir) (not shown) for carrying the sanitizing fluid. 
       FIG. 15  depicts the handle  50  without the latch mechanism lever  101  and where the hidden detail is made visible and the trigger lever  102  is in the depressed position. 
       FIG. 16  depicts the handle  50  and a reservoir  1603  that are fitted to a door  1602 . A connection sheath  1601  covers the tube  420  between the reservoir connection point  104  and the reservoir  1603 . The reservoir fascia can be opened to allow a new cartridge to be fitted when the existing cartridge runs empty. In other embodiments, the tube may penetrate the door through a hole allowing the reservoir to be mounted on the opposite side of the door. 
       FIG. 17  depicts the handle  50  rotated to an unlatched position for a door  1602 , while dispensing sanitizer fluid  1701  onto the hand being used to turn the handle  50  according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The door  1602  comprises a door latch  1604 , which is partially recessed into the door  1602  because the handle  50  is manipulated to open the door  1602 .  FIG. 17  further illustrates sanitizer fluid  1701  being released from nozzle  103 . 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.