Abstract:
A method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle. The apparatus includes a handle having a nozzle, an actuator fluidly coupled to the nozzle, and a cartridge of sanitizer fluid fluidly coupled to the actuator. Manipulation of the handle causes the actuator to dispense sanitizer fluid from the nozzle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/335,716, 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 a health care technology and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for promoting sanitization through door handles. 
     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 include a method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle. The apparatus comprises a handle having a nozzle, an actuator fluidly coupled to the nozzle, and a cartridge of sanitizer fluid fluidly coupled to the actuator. Manipulation of the handle causes the actuator to dispense sanitizer fluid from the nozzle onto a users hand. 
    
    
     
       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 front elevation view of a device to promote sanitization in accordance with one embodiment in the invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a side elevation view of the device to promote sanitization in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an isometric perspective view of a hand operating a handle according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts the device fitted to a door in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a front elevation view of a sanitizer agent dispensing device  10  to be fitted, via a standard spindle, to a standard latch mechanism of a common latching door. A cartridge  101  containing sanitizer fluid, such as pressurized alcohol, is slotted into a frame  102  which can be attached to a door and door latch. Although pressurized alcohol, is described as used in one embodiment of the invention, other types of sanitizing fluids based on or containing compounds with antibacterial, anti-viral, and/or anti-fungal properties, including but not limited to, ones based on: alcohol; benzochloronate; iodine; silver, silver-nitrate; TRIOSYN; and zinc, as well as combinations and compounds thereof, may be dispensed in various forms by the device  10 , including but not limited to, in at least one of liquids, aerosols, sprays, streams and/or the like. The underside of the cartridge features a female valve  103  which connects to an actuator  120  comprising a male valve  104 , a solenoid valve  105 , a battery pack  110 , a contact plate  111 , and a pressure switch  106 . The female valve  103  meets with a male valve  104  in the frame  102 . When the cartridge  101  is slotted into the frame  102 , the male valve  104  and the female valve  103  connect allowing pressurized alcohol to travel to the solenoid valve  105  attached to the male part of the valve  104 . When the contact plate  111  is in the upright position (x-plane), it contacts a pressure switch  106  which holds the solenoid valve  105  shut. The solenoid valve  105  and pressure switch  106  are provided power by the battery pack  110  (e.g., one or more batteries) forming an electro-mechanical control system. 
     When the handle  50  is manipulated (e.g., rotated), the contact plate  111  rotates clockwise, releasing the pressure switch  106 . The resulting signal from the pressure switch  106  opens the solenoid valve  105  for a uniform period of time allowing a standard quantity of pressurized alcohol to be released from the cartridge  101 , through the female valve feature  103 ; the male valve  104  and the solenoid valve  105 , into the connecting tube  109 . The solenoid valve is controlled to open only for an amount of time necessary to dispense a uniform amount of sanitizer fluid. Such control may be facilitated by mechanical or electrical techniques. A sanitizer fluid, such as the pressurized alcohol  101 , is carried through the connecting tube to a nozzle  108  where it is diffused into the indented region  107  of the handle  50  and onto the hand which is pushing the handle  50 . The rotational movement of the handle  50  also rotates the spindle  112  which travels through the rear of the frame  102 , allowing the device  10  to be mounted on any common door where the device  10  connects to the latching mechanism of the door via the spindle  112 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a side elevation view of the handle  50  that shows internal mechanisms. The spindle  112  is connected to the handle  50  and emerges from the back of the frame  102  to allow the handle  50  to be coupled to the latching mechanism of a common door (not pictured). Also visible are the switch  106  and contact plate  111 , which operate the solenoid valve  105 . When the handle  50  is rotated, the spindle  112  rotates, moving the contact plate  111  away from the switch  106 , which in turn, triggers the opening of the solenoid valve  105 , allowing sanitizing fluid to pass through the tube  109  to the nozzle  108  where it is sprayed upward onto the hand. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  depict an isometric perspective view of the handle  50  mounted onto a door  301 . In  FIG. 3 , a hand  302  can clearly be seen covering the handle  50 . While the hand  302  is in this orientation, it is ideally positioned for the sanitizer fluid, such as the pressurized alcohol, to be issued from the nozzle  108  upward onto the hand  302  as the handle  50  is rotated to unlatch the door latch mechanism. This enables the user to then rub and spread the sanitizer fluid about the surface of both hands  302  in order to sanitize them. 
     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.