GB2457700A

GB2457700A - Hygienic door handle operable using wrist

Info

Publication number: GB2457700A
Application number: GB0803221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Paul Clarke; Beverley Susan Clarke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-22
Filing date: 2008-02-22
Publication date: 2009-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-22
Also published as: GB2457700B; GB0803221D0

Abstract

A door handle 2 formed of silicon rubber is arranged to allow a user to open a door 4 using their wrist, fist or forearm, eliminating the need to touch the door handle with the palm or fingers of a hand. The handle may be secured to the door using toughened rubber housings 1 such that a loop 3 is formed through which the wrist, fist or forearm may be placed. The handle may be compressible so that when the door is opened against an adjacent wall the handle is compressed to a similar size as a standard door handle (Fig. 2). The handle may be used on a public toilet door.

Description

1 2457700

WRIST PULL

Background

This invention relates to a hygienic door handle that does not require the palm of the hand or fingers to be used when opening the door.

Typically most public doors, particularly toilet entrance doors, have self close hinges which means that you are required to pull the door towards you to exit.

Hygiene sadly is not always adhered to and it is fair to say that most public toilets are a common breeding ground for bacteria and once you have washed your hands you are then in danger of contaminating them again, through touching the toilet door handle to exit.

Statement of Invention

To overcome this, our invention proposes that a door handle is created that allows for sufficient space for the wrist or fist to be used to pull the door towards you and exit, without using the palm of your hand or fingers to touch the door handle. We propose that our invention could replace existing door handles which are now used on self close doors.

Once your hands are clean you would be able to exit the room without contamination to the palm of the hands and fingers.

The handle is made with a type of pliable silicon rubber with memory, which would also act as a door stop when the door is fully opened.

The silicon rubber is dense enough so that the level of hygiene is maintained, as Inevitably there would be people that would use the handle with the palm of their hands.

Because the handle is pliable and with memory, the door can be opened fully as per a standard door handle.

Introduction to Drawings

An example of the invention wifl be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1. Position of the door handle when the door is closed.

Figure 2. Position of the door handle when the door is opened against a wall.

Description 1/2

The silicon rubber handle 2' is secured to the door 4 by means of a toughened rubber housing 1 which when secured at the specified width creates a natural loop 3 in the silicon rubber handle 2 through which your wrist/fist can be used to open the door towards you. 2/2

Shows the silicon rubber handle 2 compressed against an adjacent wall reducing the silicon rubber handle 2 to a similar projection as a standard door handle.

Claims

Claims 1. The silicon rubber door handle would replace the traditional door handle, typically used in a public toilet facility exit thereby allowing you to pull the door open with your wrist/fist eliminating the need to touch the door handle with the palm of your hand or fingers.
2. The door handle as per claim 1, which would compress against the adjacent wall, reducing the projection to that of a standard door handle and due to its memory would return to its original shape when released.