Abstract:
A hygienic door operating device comprising a dispensing means arranged to contain a plurality of gripping handles and adapted to dispense a separate handle to each person operating the door, the gripping handle being adapted to engage a formation secured to the door whereby the door can be operated by manual engagement of the gripping handle and disposal means to transfer the gripping handle to a collection receptacle after use

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention concerns systems, methods and apparatus for enabling a door to be opened by a person without direct contact with the door components. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is a matter of common experience that some users of washrooms in public and semi-public places do not have the same hygiene standards as others and may through contact with objects such as taps, door handles and the like contaminate such objects with bacteria- or virus-bearing matter. This can lead to the spread of disease and is therefore generally unacceptable to many washroom users. 
         [0003]    Ways have been devised to address this problem, but have various disadvantages and appear not to have been widely adopted. For example, paper doorknob covers may be supplied from a suitable dispenser so that a washroom user can take a cover, place it over a doorknob of the washroom door and then open the door to exit the washroom without having to touch the doorknob. This arrangement suffers from the disadvantage of generating litter and of requiring the use of supplies which are not readily able to be recycled and does not lend itself well to use with D-type pull handles, which are more commonly used in washroom exit door applications. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses the problem of opening a washroom door without having to touch the door or the conventional door handle. 
         [0005]    The invention has applications beyond washrooms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Although in this specification the invention is disclosed and described in relation to its application to washrooms, it is believed to have applicability to other areas of activity, for example to “clean room”, laboratory and medical facilities and there is no intention to limit the disclosure specifically to the washroom application. 
         [0007]    In a first aspect, the invention provides a hygienic door operating device comprising a dispensing means arranged to contain a plurality of gripping handles and adapted to dispense a separate handle to each person operating the door, the gripping handle being adapted to engage a formation secured to the door whereby the door can be operated by manual engagement of the gripping handle and disposal means to transfer the gripping handle to a collection receptacle after use 
         [0008]    The dispensing means is preferably adapted to contain a plurality of gripping devices and to dispense one at a time to the user from a dispensing position. 
         [0009]    The dispensing means may comprise means for storing said plurality of gripping devices so that when one gripping device of the plurality of gripping devices is dispensed from a dispensing position another gripping device of the plurality of gripping devices moves automatically into said dispensing position, until all gripping devices of the plurality of gripping devices have been dispensed. 
         [0010]    The dispensing means may comprise elongate guide means for holding undispensed gripping devices in an array therealong. 
         [0011]    Said gripping devices may be held on and be slideable under gravity along said guide means to said dispensing position at a bottom end of said guide means. 
         [0012]    Preferably said dispensing means comprises guard means for preventing access to at least a proportion of the undispensed gripping devices therein excluding the gripping device in the dispensing position. This is to avoid the possibility of undispensed gripping devices being touched before they are dispensed, and possibly contaminated. 
         [0013]    The gripping device when dispensed may be adapted for subsequent engagement by the user with the formation on the door. Such engagement may be snap-fitting engagement. 
         [0014]    Alternatively, the gripping device when dispensed by the dispensing means may be engaged with the formation on the door. That is, the dispensing means may dispense a gripping device directly onto the formation on the door. 
         [0015]    The said formation on the door may comprise an elongate member on which said gripping device is slideable up or down when engaged with the formation. The formation is preferably adapted to be gripped and used as a handle for the door in the event that no gripping device is available or in the event that a user simply elects to grasp the handle directly. 
         [0016]    The gripping device may have at least one retaining portion that is retained in and slideable along a slot in said formation when said gripping device is engaged with the formation. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the dispensing means may be adapted to be:
       (a) loaded with a plurality of said gripping devices;   (b) subsequently secured on or adjacent to the door; and   (c) subsequently released and replaced with a further said dispensing devices loaded with gripping devices.       
 
         [0021]    That is, the dispensing means may comprise a cassette, loaded with gripping devices, that is able to be secured as a unit in a desired position and when emptied of gripping devices, replaced with another such cassette loaded with gripping devices. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the apparatus further comprises collection means for collecting and retaining said gripping device after said gripping device is discarded by the user. 
         [0023]    Said collection means may be adapted to deny access by unauthorized persons to gripping devices collected therein. This reduces the risk of contamination of persons using the door by discarded gripping devices. 
         [0024]    The collection means may be adapted and in use positioned on said door to receive gripping devices when let go by a user after use thereof to move the door. That is, with this feature, it is only necessary for a user who has opened the door using a gripping device to let it go, rather than actively put it into the collection means. 
         [0025]    Said collection means may comprise an internal space into which gripping devices in engagement with said formation fall under gravity when released by users. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, gripping devices thus released and falling into said internal space engage with elongate guide means therein and are retained on said guide means. 
         [0027]    The collection means may be adapted to be:
       (a) released from the door with collected gripping devices retained therein; and   (b) subsequently replaced by another collection means on said door in the same position as the released collection means.       
 
         [0030]    This arrangement avoids the need for handling discarded gripping devices at the washroom, and so reduces the potential for harm to maintenance personnel. The collection means may simply be removed as a unit including the discarded gripping devices therein, and taken to for example a central facility equipped to deal with it hygienically. 
         [0031]    It is possible for the collection means (or a part thereof) containing collected gripping devices to be adapted to be removed from the door and replaced in an identical position on the door by an identical collection means (or part thereof), with the replacement collection means (or part thereof) comprising an empty said dispensing means (or part thereof). This arrangement can reduce the expense and time required for on-site maintenance. That is, a filled collection means can be removed as a unit for transport to a central treatment facility and the empty dispensing means released from its position and transferred to take up the position and function of the removed collection means. 
         [0032]    In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for provision of a hygienic door opening facility at a location, said method comprising the steps of:
       providing at least said hygienic door operating device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims;   attaching said device to the door;   providing at least one said gripping handle in said dispensing means;   collecting and removing said at least one gripping handle from said location after use.       
 
         [0037]    The method may include the step of cleaning the or each discarded gripping device and re-using same in the apparatus. 
         [0038]    The method may include the step of recycling the discarded gripping devices and manufacturing new gripping devices from the material of such recycled gripping devices. 
         [0039]    According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a hygienic door operating device adapted to be secured to a face of a door, the device comprising a dispenser adapted to dispense a separate gripping handle to a rotor, the rotor being adapted to locate and hold the gripping handle, the rotor being rotatable from a dispense position in which the gripping handle is located in the rotor within the device to an operative position in which a user can contact the gripping handle to move the door, to a disposal position in which the gripping handle drops from the rotor whereby movement of the rotor facilitates a fresh gripping handle being dispensed. 
         [0040]    Note that throughout this specification, the word “comprise” and words derived therefrom such as “comprising” and “comprised”, when used in relation to a set of integers elements or steps are to be taken as indicating that the elements integers or steps are present but not to be taken as precluding the possible presence of other elements integers or steps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0041]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0042]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washroom door with a door operating device in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention fitted to the inner face of the door; 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the device; 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the device; 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the device; 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken on the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken on the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken on the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken on the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a cassette for use with the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the cassette; 
           [0052]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a dispensing spool which forms part of the device; 
           [0053]      FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are upper and lower perspective views of an indexing rotor; 
           [0054]      FIG. 13  is a view of the rotor supporting three gripping handles in the same perspective as  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 14  is a cut-away perspective view of the upper part of the device with an auxiliary handle shown in dotted profile; 
           [0056]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the auxiliary handle; 
           [0057]      FIG. 16  is a perspective cut-away view of the dispensing spool with adjacent parts shown in dotted profile and illustrating a locking pin and servo motor. 
           [0058]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a washroom door installation, fitted with a handle, gripper dispenser and gripper receptacle according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the handle, gripper dispenser and receptacle shown in  FIG. 17 , partly cut away; 
           [0060]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 18 , the section being taken at station AA and the view omitting all detail beyond section BB; 
           [0061]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in  FIG. 18 , the section being taken at station CC and the view omitting all detail beyond section DD; 
           [0062]      FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle shown in  FIG. 18 , the section being taken at station FF and the view omitting all detail beyond station GG; 
           [0063]      FIG. 22  is a side view of another embodiment of a handle and portions of a gripper dispenser and gripper receptacle, partly cut away; 
           [0064]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in  FIG. 22 , the section being taken at station HH and all detail beyond station JJ being omitted; 
           [0065]      FIG. 24  is a side view of a further embodiment of a handle and portions of a gripper dispenser and gripper receptacle, partly cut away; 
           [0066]      FIG. 25  is a side view of a still further embodiment of a handle and portions of a gripper dispenser and gripper receptacle, partly cut away; 
           [0067]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a mechanism used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 25 , with some structural detail omitted for clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0068]      FIG. 1  shows a view of a washroom door  1 , seen from the inside of a washroom, i.e. from the side of door  1  that is seen by a person inside the washroom wishing to leave the washroom. The door  1  would usually have a handle for use by persons (not shown) wishing to leave the washroom after using such facilities therein as a toilet (not shown). Washroom doors such as door  1  typically open into the washroom, so that for exit, the handle must be pulled to open door  1 , which moves in the direction of arrow  3 . Typically a door closer means  75  is provided so that opening the door is all that is needed—a person can simply pass through and allow the door to close subsequently under the action of the door closer  75 . A person who has washed his or her hands after using a toilet in the washroom may be reluctant, on hygiene grounds, to touch the handle, knowing that some people do not wash their hands after using toilet facilities, and the present invention addresses this problem. 
         [0069]    In a first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 16 , a door operating device  100  enables a person to open a door  1  without direct contact with the door or the conventional components of the door such as the handle or face plate. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7  the device  100  essentially comprises dispensing means adapted to dispense a single use gripping handle  150 . The gripping handle  150  is positioned so that the user holds the handle  150  to pull the door  1  open against the conventional hydraulic door closer  75 . Once the user has completed this action, the gripping handle  150  is transported to a disposal zone. Each time someone approaches the door and activates a proximity sensor  185  by waving a hand in front of the sensor  185 , another fresh gripping handle  150  is positioned in an operative position so that the only contact that a person has with the door  1  is via the gripping handle  150 . 
         [0070]    The device  100  essentially comprises a cassette support  101  for two cassettes  102 ,  103  containing stacks of gripping handles  150  in the form of tabs made of aluminium. A delivery spool  130  is located under the cassettes  102 ,  103  and contains an indexing rotor  160  to deliver a gripping handle  150  to an operational zone  180  at the front of the spool  130 . A collection bin  121  is located beneath the delivery spool  130 . The whole assembly is secured to the inner face of the door  1  on the outer edge of the door so that a pull on the gripping handle  150  has the effect of pulling the assembly and the door  1  open. 
         [0071]    The spool  130  fits directly under the cassette support  101  shown in  FIG. 14 . The cassette support  101  comprises a substantially rectangular double walled back plate  105  which has a centrally positioned forwardly extending wedge-shaped projection  106 , the sides of which define, with the front surface of the back plate  105 , an elongate slot  107  into which a cassette  102  of gripping tabs can be clipped into. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the projecting member  106  defines two such wall structures so that cassettes  102 ,  103  can be located in a spaced vertical array on either side of the projections  106 . The central projection  106  also has a downwardly extending handle  109  which is connected to the projecting member  106  via a base flange  108 . The handle  109  operates as an auxiliary handle so that a user can, if necessary, pull or push the door open or closed by gripping the handle  109 . 
         [0072]    As shown in the assembly views of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the collection bin  121  is substantially cylindrical with a flat base  122  and extends down to the base of the door  1  from the underside of the spool  130 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the overall shape and configuration of the collection bin  121  is similar to the shape and configuration of the cassette support  101  and cassettes  102 ,  103  which extend up to the top of the door with the dispensing spool  130  being positioned at a convenient hand height for the user. 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , each gripping handle  150  is essentially a tab of substantially triangular cross-section with a pointed end  151  which defines a head  152  and a neck  153 . The other end defines an enlarged base  155  with a central cut-out  156 . The enlarged base  155  defines a portion of the tab which can be grasped by the user&#39;s fingers. The indexing rotor  160  locates and supports three such tabs  150 . The head  152  and neck  153  co-operate with the rotor  160  to position and locate each tab. By grasping the enlarged base  155  of the tab, the user can simply pull open the door  1 . 
         [0074]    The indexing rotor  160  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  and essentially comprises a circular disc which has a central peripheral wall structure defined by three arcuate wall portions  161 ,  162 ,  163  each of which has a radially, outwardly extending land  164 ,  165 ,  166 . The lands define three slots  167 ,  168 ,  169  into which a gripping handle (or tab)  150  may be located. The interior of the wall structure defines three equally spaced webs  171 ,  172 ,  173  which form a central spigot  175  of the disc. On the underside of the disc, the spigot  175  includes a mounting boss  176  which can be positioned on a shaft (not shown) to facilitate rotation of the disc. Each arcuate wall portion  161 ,  162 ,  163  has a projection  177  which extends into the gap between the lands  164 ,  165 ,  166  and this projection engages the neck  153  of each tab  150  to locate each tab in the indexing rotor  160 . 
         [0075]    The relationship of the rotor  160  and tabs  150  with the spool  130  is shown in  FIG. 11 . The arcuate wall portions  161 ,  162 ,  163  of the rotor  160  allow the tab  150  to slide vertically down from the upper plane of the rotor. As the rotor turns to the operational zone  180 , the tab  150  drops down the wall portions  161 ,  162 ,  163  to rest on a pair of spaced ledges  131 ,  132  projecting from the wall of the spool at a plane lower than the upper plane. This is the operative position shown in  FIG. 11  in which the head  152  and the neck  153  of the tab  150  still engages the rotor  160 . 
         [0076]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the spool  130  houses the indexing rotor  160  and a small electric servo or stepper motor  135  which rotates the disc through six index positions spaced at an included angle of 60°. The front of the spool  130  defines a cut-out that constitutes the operational zone  180 . The rotor  160  is positioned underneath the cassette support  101  so that on rotation the slots pass underneath the base of each cassette  102 ,  103 . The rotor  160  is also positioned over the collection bin  121 .  FIG. 13 , which is in the same perspective as  FIG. 11 , illustrates spaced loading zones L 1  and L 2 , under left and right hand cassettes  103  and  102 , on either side of the operational zone  180  at the front of the device at which a tab  150  is exposed for direct finger contact to pull open the door. As the indexing rotor  160  moves past the operational zone  180 , the used or soiled gripping tab  150  is dropped by the indexing rotor  160  into the collection bin  121  which is housed underneath the spool  130 . The disposal of the used tab  150  can take place on either side of the operational zone  180  depending on the rotational direction of the rotor  160 . 
         [0077]    Essentially the gripping handles or tabs  150  are fed by gravity down the cassettes  102 ,  103  to drop into slots  167 - 169  in the indexing plate  160  to in turn drop to an operative position when in the zone  180 . Once the tab has been used to open the door, the tab drops into the collection bin  121 . 
         [0078]    The head  152  of each tab  150  includes a T-shaped cut-out  158  which is arranged to slide into an appropriately shaped guide  159  at the rear of each cassette  102 ,  103 . Thereby locating the tabs  150  accurately in the cassette. The same T-shaped cut-out  158  provides a three point location of the tabs  150  in the rotor  160  where suitable projections are provided to engage the T-shaped cut-out  158  so that the projection  157 , together with the projections  177  in the neck  153  of the tab, provide a three point support ensuring the tab  150  is always accurately aligned. 
         [0079]    The indexing procedure of the rotor  160  is illustrated in  FIG. 13  which shows a tab T 1  positioned in the operational zone  180  ready to be engaged by the user of the door to pull the door open. On the assumption that the rotor is rotating in a clockwise direction, the land  166  is adjacent to exposed tab  150  (T 1 ) is underneath the right hand cassette  102  to engage the rotor  160 . The land  165  is then positioned between the tab T 2  and the next tab T 3  which would also have descended from the left hand cassette  103  which is located over the land  164 . As the door returns to the closed position after use of the gripping handle  150 , the rotor  160  is indexed through 60°, the first tab T 1  is dropped into the collection bin  121  leaving a gap which is then filled by the left hand cassette  103 . Once the left hand cassette  103  is empty, the direction of rotation is reversed to pick up gripping tabs from the right hand cassette  102 . In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rotor is indexed to rotate in either direction through 360°. The need to rotate through 360° increases the depth of the device, resulting in the need for the rear of the device to be located in a cut-out in the door. It is however understood that it could be a smaller plate which could oscillate back and forth through 180° picking up gripping handles from either cassette and moving through 60° to present the handle to the operation zone  180 . An oscillating smaller plate does away with the need for setting the device into the door. 
         [0080]    The proximity sensor  185  is positioned at the front of the device  100  so that when a user waves his or her hand at the sensor it activates the servo motor  135  to index the rotor through 60° and present a fresh gripping handle  150  at the operational zone  180 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a rectangular face place  140  is positioned on the outer face of the door  1  that is on the opposite side to the device  100 . The face plate  140  includes an LED  141  that lights up when the proximity sensor is activated thus warning someone approaching the door that someone is about to open the door. 
         [0081]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , sensors  181 ,  182  are positioned behind the two loading zones L 1  and L 2  to check whether a tab has in fact been dropped into the rotor. In this way, each used gripping handle (tab) is dropped into the collection bin  121  and a fresh tab is supplied to the rotor  160  so that each time a user activates the proximity sensor  185  and the rotor is indexed for rotation, a fresh handle is presented to the user at the operational zone  180 . The tabs  150  descend from the cassettes  102 ,  103  through gravity with the first, or left hand cassette  103 , being used before the second, right hand cassette  102  is used. 
         [0082]    The underside view shown in  FIG. 8  also illustrates a third dead centre recognition sensor  186 . This sensor projects radially towards the centre of the rotor  160 . As shown in  FIG. 12   b , suitably located magnets  187  on the interior of the wall structure of the rotor  160  have the effect of causing the rotor  160  to precisely stop in the exact position to ensure alignment with the dispensing cassettes  102 ,  103  and disposal bin  121 . This sensor further reinforces the indexing control of the servo or stepper motor which drives the rotor  160 . 
         [0083]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the device  100  also includes a locking pin  181  which extends vertically above the head of the gripping handle at the operational zone  180 . The pin  181  has a head (not shown) which in the locked position engages the handle  150  to prevent the rotor  160  rotating when the handle is engaged by the user. The pin drops through gravity but is lifted up through an electrical solenoid  182  so it is clear of the rotor  160  during the indexing operation. 
         [0084]    A safety feature of the apparatus which prevents the possibility of fingers being trapped is provided by two mechanisms to ensure that when the gripping handle  150  is being touched the rotor  160  cannot turn. In the first place, the holding of the tab  150  causes a current build up in the electric motor which, once it passes a certain threshold, causes the motor to stop. Secondly, the tab  150  is made of an electrically conductive material such as aluminium or electrically conductive plastics and a conductive strip is positioned directly underneath the tab  150  so that contact of the tab causes an electrical signal to flow to a switching device which again ensures that the motor does not turn the rotor. This same signal also overrides a timing mechanism so that once the gripping handle  150  is not touched it moves to the dispense position. There is a programmable timing mechanism which waits up to 60 seconds before indexing the rotor in the absence of someone touching the device. The touch signal is provided to speed up the operation so that in a busy environment users do not have to queue to operate the door. 
         [0085]    The electric motor is preferably powered by batteries and there is a compartment  137  positioned towards the top of the cassette holder  101  to accommodate C-type batteries which are each of 1.5 volts. The electronics of the circuitry allow the electric motor to run on a range of voltages. It is understood that the device could also be run on mains electricity through a step down transformer. The same power source powers the sensors and a series of service LEDs  138  which are mounted on the top right of the device  100 . The service LEDs provide a ready indication when a service call is required such as when one cassette is empty or the collection bin requires emptying. Other routine service issues can also be designated by the LEDs. The device also includes a series of switches which operate to turn off the device should either cassette  102 ,  103  or the disposal bin  121  be removed. The disposal bin  121  is designed to hold more tabs than are contained in both cassettes so that when the cassettes are replaced there is a simple means of emptying the bin. The cassettes are designed to hold at least 500 gripping handles or tabs in each cassette. 
         [0086]    The next page illustrates an operational flow chart based on the following assumptions:
   i) The gripping handles  150  from the left hand cassette  103  are in the rear middle position and under right hand cassette  102  position;   ii) The rotor land is in the user operative position;   iii) The locking rotor pin  181  is sitting on top of the rotor  160 ;   iv) The rotor direction has been set to clockwise;   v) The left hand primary sensor  181  is current; and   vi) The proximity sensor  185  is activated.   
 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0093]    In another embodiment, the device illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 16  can be used as a cubicle lock. A small actuated locking latch is positioned at a position below the spool and is coupled to an actuator which is actuated by switching means it the form of a proximity sensor at a position below the proximity sensor  185 . When a user enters the cubicle, the door is pushed open from the outside and then the user calls for a gripping handle by activating the proximity switch  185 . When a handle is positioned in the operative zone, the user closes the door and at the same time activates the lower proximity sensor that causes the locking latch to be driven to a locked position in which the door is locked. When the user wishes to open the door, a hand is waved at the lower proximity sensor which unlocks the door and the gripping handle, which is still in the operative position, is used to open the door. When the door is closed, that gripping handle is then transferred to the disposal bin ready for the next use. This embodiment would require modification to the timing to ensure that the gripping handle remains in the operative zone whilst the person is within the cubicle. 
         [0094]    In a second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17 to 21 , a dispenser  4  is secured to a door  1  above handle  2  from which a person wishing not to touch handle  2  can obtain a clean, hand-held gripper  5  by means of which the person may grip the handle  2  and pull door  1  open without having actually to contact handle  2 . A gripper  5   a  is visible at the lower end  6  of dispenser  4  and can be dispensed to the person by simply being pulled away from door  1 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 18  shows a side view, partially sectioned, of handle  2 , the lower end of dispenser  4 , and portions of a receptacle  7  that receives discarded grippers  5 .  FIGS. 19 and 20  show cross-sectional views of the dispenser  4  and handle  2  respectively. Station EE on  FIGS. 19 and 21  is the station at which the sectioning is taken in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0096]    Dispenser  4  comprises a vertical guide rail  8  on which a supply of clean grippers  5  is held and able to slide downward under the action of gravity, a base plate  9  and a cover  10 . Cover  10  prevents access to grippers  5  on guide rail  8  except for the lowermost gripper  5   a . A stop plate  11  extends outwardly from base plate  9  and serves to stop lowermost gripper  5   a  from sliding downwardly off guide rail  8 . A lower end  50  of guide rail  8  ends far enough above plate  11  that lowermost gripper sa can be dispensed to a person who simply pulls it outwardly away from door  1 , as shown by arrow  12  in  FIG. 18 . The remaining grippers  5  then fall downward along guide rail  8 , the lowermost one of them then being positioned against plate  11  for dispensing. In  FIG. 18 , gripper  5   a  is shown in full lines in the position it occupies before being dispensed and in chain-dotted lines in its position after being dispensed and when secured to handle  2  as described below. 
         [0097]    As can be seen in  FIG. 19 , guide rail  8  has side recesses  13  into which are received hook-like projections  16  of gripper  5 , so that grippers  5  are held on guide rail  8 . Between the remainder of gripper  5  and guide rail  8  is a clearance space  14 , giving enough clearance so that grippers  5  can slide freely lengthwise on guide rail  8 . 
         [0098]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , handle  2  has the same cross-sectional shape as guide rail  8 . After obtaining a clean gripper  5   a  from dispenser  4 , a person can push that gripper  5   a  toward handle  2 , as shown by arrow  15  in  FIG. 20  (and the lower part of arrow  12  in  FIG. 18 ) so as to snap-fittingly engage gripper  5   a  on handle  2  in the same way as on guide rail  8 . Gripper  5   a  is formed from a material that is resilient and flexible (e.g. by injection moulding in a suitable thermoplastic material) so that projections  16  are pushed outward as gripper  5   a  is pushed into place over handle  2  and then rebound inward to enter and be retained in side recesses  17  of handle  2 . By pulling on cross-member  22  of gripper  5   a  the person can open door  1  without having to touch handle  2 . Once this is done, the person can simply release gripper  5   a , allowing it to slide downwardly along handle  2 . 
         [0099]    Receptacle  7  has a cross section, shown in  FIG. 21 , that is identical to that of dispenser  4  as shown in  FIG. 19 , over most of its length. Receptacle  7  has a cover  18 , a base plate  19  and a guide rail  20 , the guide rail  20  having the same cross-sectional shape as guide rail  8  and handle  2 . Guide rail  20  is positioned directly below handle  2 , so that when a person releases gripper  5   a , gripper  5   a  simply slides down handle  2  (as shown by arrow  23  in  FIG. 18 ) and onto guide rail  20  of receptacle  7 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , discarded grippers  5  slide down guide rail  20  and accumulate thereon at its lower end  25 . A hook  21  prevents grippers  5  falling off the lower end  25  of guide rail  20 . Note that cover  18  is optional—guide rail  20  could simply be left exposed. 
         [0100]    The cross-sectional shape of handle  2  is such that a person not wishing to use a gripper  5  as described above can still open door  1  by gripping device  2  directly. 
         [0101]    For ongoing use of the system shown in  FIGS. 16 to 21 , without having to revert to direct contact between users and handle  2 , it is of course necessary that dispenser  4  be provided from time to time with a fresh supply of clean grippers  5  and that the grippers  5  in receptacle  7  be removed for cleaning, disposal or recycling. 
         [0102]    One way to do this is to feed a new supply of clean grippers  5  onto guide rail  8  from its upper end  24  (FIG.  16 ) and to temporarily remove hook  21 , to allow used grippers  5  to be removed from the lower end  25  of guide rail  20  of receptacle  7 . This approach allows dispenser  4  and receptacle  5 , as well as handle  2 , to be fixed permanently to door  1 . 
         [0103]    However, in another embodiment of the invention, dispenser  4  and receptacle  7  can be made removable from door  1 . Then, to provide a new supply of grippers  5 , an empty dispenser  4  can be removed from door  1  and a new dispenser  4 , already filled with a supply of clean grippers  5  simply placed on door  1  in its stead. Similarly, a receptacle  7  filled with used grippers  5  can be removed from door  1  as a unit and replaced with a new receptacle  7  that is empty. The actual emptying of removed receptacle  7  and refilling of removed dispenser  4  could then be done at a suitable centralized facility away from the point of their actual use. 
         [0104]    It will be noted in  FIG. 18  that hook  21  and stop plate  11  are shown as secured to the door  1 . This being so dispenser  4  and receptacle  7  can be made identical (including as to gripper  5  capacity), so that a further possibility is to:
       (a) remove a full receptacle  7  for return to, and emptying at, a centralized facility;   (b) transfer empty dispenser  4  from its position above handle  2  to the position of the removed receptacle  7 ; and   (c) lace a new dispenser  4 , filled at the centralized facility in position on door  1 .       
 
         [0108]    This variation reduces the amount of parts handling and transport required of personnel servicing washrooms. 
         [0109]    Dispensers  4  filled with clean grippers  5  may be wrapped (e.g. in paper, cellophane or plastics film) until installation to ensure that their cleanliness is not compromised prior to installation. 
         [0110]    Although not shown, door  1  and/or dispensers  4  and receptacles  7  may be provided with suitable locking means (e.g. key-operated) to prevent unauthorized removal of dispensers  4  or receptacles  7  from door  1 . 
         [0111]    Multiple dispensers  4  may be mounted on door  1  if required, for example to provide a larger supply of grippers  5 . However, it is not essential to mount dispenser  4  on door  1  at all. Instead, one or more dispensers of grippers  5  (such as dispenser  4  or another suitable type) may be mounted on a wall beside the door or outside the washroom or in any other suitable and convenient location. This may be done for example in exceptionally busy washrooms where not enough grippers  5  could be contained in a single dispenser such as dispenser  4 . 
         [0112]    Similarly, it is possible to mount more than one receptacle such as receptacle  7  on door  1 , where more grippers  5  need to be collected. Each may be provided with its own handle  2 . 
         [0113]    Another possibility is to provide grippers  5  from a coin- or token-operated vending machine. Vending machine technologies for automatically vending a wide range of items are well known and need not be further described here. A further and related possibility is an adaptation of the system (known in the art of providing supermarket trolleys) whereby a coin must be deposited to obtain the item required (in this case a fresh gripper  5 ), and a coin is returned when that gripper is returned. This option would require modification of both the dispensing and gripper-receiving parts of the system. 
         [0114]      FIG. 22  shows another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 22  is directly comparable in viewpoint with  FIG. 18 , showing a handle  30 , a dispenser  31  for grippers  71  (the same as grippers  5 ), and a receptacle  32  for discarded grippers  71 . Dispenser  31 , handle  30  and receptacle  32  are arranged one above the other on a door  37  in the same way as items  4 ,  2  and  7  are arranged on door  1 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . Dispenser  31  comprises a guide rail  33  the same as guide rail  8 , a cover  34  the same as cover  10  and a base plate  70  the same as base plate  9  and its cross section at station KK ( FIG. 22 ) is identical to the cross-section of dispenser  4  shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0115]    Grippers  71  in dispenser  31  accumulate at the bottom end  35  of guide rail  33 , with a lowermost one  71   b  of grippers  71  abutting a plate  36  that extends outward from door  37 . A person can use handle  30  to open door  37  by directly gripping device  30  if required, but to avoid such contact, may instead pull gripper  71   b  outwardly with a finger  40  as shown by arrow  38  until gripper  71   b  clears plate  36 . However, outward movement of gripper  71   b  creases when gripper  71   b  becomes captive on handle  30 , in the manner shown on  FIG. 23  (where another gripper  71  is shown in phantom outline). Gripper  71   b  can slide freely down handle  30 , so that when released by the person it slides downwardly into gripper receptacle  32 , there to be accumulated with other discarded grippers  71  in the same way as grippers  5  accumulate in receptacle  7 . Receptacle  32  works in the same way as receptacle  7 , having a guide rail  41  with the same cross-sectional shape as that of handle  30  but otherwise playing the same role as guide rail  20  of receptacle  7 . 
         [0116]    This embodiment has the difference from the one shown in  FIGS. 16 to 21  that grippers  71  are not able to be removed from the door  37  altogether, as they are initially captive in dispenser  31 , then captive on handle  30  and finally captive in receptacle  32 . 
         [0117]    This other embodiment can be further modified (not shown) so that the dispenser and receptacle guide rails are of the same cross-section, thus allowing for the dispenser and receptacle to be interchangeable as described above. Referring to  FIG. 24 , there is shown a view, comparable to  FIGS. 18 and 22 , of such an embodiment. A dispenser  90  is the same as dispenser  4 , having a guide rail  91  for grippers  92  as described above. Directly below guide rail  91  is a handle  93  secured to a door  99 , having a cross-section the same as guide rail  91 . Below handle  93  is a gripper collection means  94  the same as collection means  7 , and in particular having a guide rail  95  of the same cross-section as handle  93 . The lowermost gripper  92   a  or grippers  92  in dispenser  90  is prevented from sliding down handle  93  by a stop  96  formed from a flexible resilient material such as rubber. Using a finger  97 , a user can pull gripper  92   a  downwards onto handle  93  so as to move door  99 . Thereafter, the user can simply let go of gripper  92   a  which slides down onto the guide rail  95  of collection means  94 . As with the embodiments described above, a user can of course simply grip handle  93  directly if unwilling to use the gripper  92   a.    
         [0118]      FIGS. 25 and 26  show yet another possible embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 25  is comparable in viewpoint with  FIGS. 18 ,  22  and  24 , showing a dispenser  200  for grippers  201 . Grippers  201  are the same as grippers  5 ,  71  and  102  and are held on a guide rail  202  comprised in dispenser  200 . Handle  203  is secured to door  204 , has the same cross-sectional shape as guide rail  202 , and is directly below guide rail  202 . Below handle  203  is guide rail  205  of a gripper collection means  206 . Dispenser  200  and gripper collection means  206  are when seen in horizontal cross-section the same as dispenser  4  and collection means  7  respectively. Mounted within door  204  is a mechanism  206 , shown in  FIG. 26 , but of which only a rotary member  207  is shown in  FIG. 25 . Rotary member  207  is able to rotate about a horizontal axis  208  in door  204  and is shaped so that when it executes a quarter turn, only the lowermost  201   a  one of grippers  201  is freed to slide down onto handle  203 . It is then stopped partway down handle  203  (in the position shown as  201   b ) by a rubber (or similar) formation  209  that is adjusted so as to just stop further downward movement of gripper  201   b , but so as not to prevent gripper  201   b  when released by its user from sliding down handle  203  onto guide rail  205 . 
         [0119]    The advantage of this embodiment is that one gripper in position  201   b  is presented to an intending user, in a convenient position, and all others are held covered within dispenser  200 , and so unable to be contaminated. When this user has passed through the door  204  and released his gripper  201 , another gripper  201  is automatically dispensed into position  201   b , ready for the next user. 
         [0120]    The mechanism  206  for dispensing one gripper  201  at a time from a stack  213  in dispenser  200  is shown schematically in  FIG. 26 . Rotary member  207  is turned through a quarter turn, so as to release just one gripper  201 , by a pawl  210 . Pawl  210  is moved when a latch  211  is moved horizontally inward into door  204  by hitting a striker plate (not shown) on the frame (not shown) of door  204 . Latch  211  is biased outwards by a compression spring  212  in door  204 . Thus when a user opens door  204  the latch  211  is in its extended-out position, but when door  204  hits its striker plate as door  264  is closed, a fresh gripper  201  is dispensed and falls into the position  201   b  ( FIG. 25 ). Persons skilled in the art will recognize that there are many alternative ways to secure one-at-a-time release of grippers. 
         [0121]    Turning now to the handling of used grippers, this may be done in any of several ways. One is to wash and re-use them. If the grippers are made of a recyclable material, for example by injection moulding in a suitable thermoplastics material, another option is to recycle them. 
         [0122]    It will be understood that although only one gripper design has been shown and only one guide rail section and only two handle sections, a very wide range of gripper designs and guide rail/handle cross-sectional shapes may be used. In particular, it is possible for a gripper (not shown) to be used that has a portion adapted to sliding engage in a female slot in a handle or guide rail, as opposed to the arrangement shown in which grippers partially surround handles and guide rails on their exteriors. 
         [0123]    To enhance the usefulness of the invention still further, it is possible to provide suitable means for detecting that a person is approaching the door in question and operating a light source (e.g. a light emitting diode) on the opposite side of the door so as to warn persons on that (outer) side that the door is about to be opened from the inside. This could be done for example by any of the usual means for non-contact detection of people, such as radar, ultrasonic or infra-red detectors. Another possibility would be for the stop  106  of  FIG. 9  to comprise an actuating part of a microswitch that operates the light source. Still another possibility, where the grippers supplied are designed to be carried away from the door (as in the system of  FIGS. 16 to 21 ) the grippers could be provided with components the same as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags so as to actuate a suitable detector at the door which in turn would operate the light source. 
         [0124]    Grippers such as grippers  5  and  71  lend themselves well to having advertising or identifying information marked on them during production (e.g. by injection moulding). For example, the name of a hotel using the system as described could be embossed on member  22  of each gripper  5 .