Portable sanitizing device

Abstract

A portable sanitizing device with a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one panel that is concave in shape. The concave panel each includes a pair of elongate apertures for allowing a strip of paper towel to pass through. A foam pad is attached to the outer surface of the concave panel. A protective cover encloses the concave surface of the housing panel. A cylindrically shaped enclosure holds a scroll of paper towel impregnated with a sanitizing liquid and fits within the rectangular housing. A rectangular portion of cloth fabric is attached to one outer surface of the rectangular housing. The paper towel strip is threaded out of the cylindrical housing and over the foam pad and out through a slit in the housing side panel. The resulting device can be used to sanitize the handle of a shopping cart.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of cleaning devices and more specifically to a portable sanitizing device.

It has long been known that germs and viruses can be transferred from a first person to a second person by a the first infected person touching a surface and the second non infected person touching the same surface thereby causing a transference of the germ or virus from the first person to the second person. This effect can especially be true when people's hands come into contact with handle surfaces such as a shopping cart handle.

Some grocery stores provide their shoppers with paper towels or other cleaning materials for the purpose of cleaning a shopping cart handle.

Some individuals carry a small amount of cleaning supplies with them in their purse or pocket for the purpose of cleaning shopping cart handles or other commonly touched handles such as bathroom handles in public places.

However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that a person can not count on the fact that a grocery store or other stores that employ shopping carts will have handle cleaning supplies available for their customers. Secondly, even if a paper towel is made available, there is no guarantee that it will have the proper ingredients to sanitize the handle in question. Third, it is inconvenient for a person to have to carry their own cleaning equipment in their purse or pocket. Finally, there may be no convenient receptacle located nearby to deposit a paper towel once it has been used for the purpose of cleaning a handle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizing device that can be used to disinfect the handle of a standard shopping cart.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizing device that has a removable and replaceable cartridge that houses a scroll of paper towel that is impregnated with disinfectant liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizing device that includes an absorbent cloth towel panel attached to one surface of the device that can be used to wipe off the remains of the liquid disinfectant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable sanitizing device that includes a pocket attached to the outer surface of the device that can removably receive a used portion of the paper towel strip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a portable sanitizing device comprising: a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one panel that is concave in shape, said concave panel attached to one side wall of said rectangular housing so that said concave panel perpendicularly extends out from said side wall, the left and right side of said concave panel each including an elongate aperture for allowing a strip of paper towel to pass through, one side panel of said rectangular housing having an elongate aperture allowing said strip of paper towel to pass through, a resilient closed cell foam pad, said pad fixed to the outer surface of said concave panel, a removable and replaceable rigid protective cover enclosing said concave surface of said housing panel, a rigid cylindrically shaped enclosure, said strip of paper towel forming a scroll, said paper towel impregnated with a sanitizing liquid, said paper scroll enclosed within said cylindrical enclosure, said cylindrical enclosure having an elongate aperture allowing the exit of said enclosed paper towel strip, a flexible pocket, said pocket affixed to one outside wall of said rectangular housing, a rectangular portion of cloth fabric, said fabric attached to a backing panel, said fabric and panel removably attached to one outer surface of said rectangular housing, one side panel of said rectangular housing being removable and replaceable, said cylindrical enclosure removably replaceable within said rectangular housing by removing said housing side panel, and said paper towel trip threaded out of said elongate aperture of said cylindrical housing and threaded through said right side aperture of said rectangular housing and over said resilient pad and through said left side of said concave panel and out through said elongated aperture of said housing side panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person using the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the invention with the protective cover removed.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the invention with the protective cover removed and the paper strip removed.

FIG. 5 is a side section view of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the paper roll cartridge of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of a person 4 using the sanitizing device of the present invention 100 on the handle 10 of a shopping cart 2. A protective cover 6 has been opened. A moistened paper strip 16 impregnated with sanitizing solution cleans the handle 10 before use. Because the sanitizing device 100 is portable, it can be easily carried in a person's pocket or purse.

Referring now to FIG. 2 we see a perspective view of the invention 100. The top cover 6 is in the closed position. The invention is constructed of a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one removable side wall 22 and one surface 28 that is concave in nature. The housing and cover are constructed of moldable plastic, preferably high density polypropylene which can have living hinge properties. The top cover is held closed by a standard removable and replaceable fastener. In the present embodiment the faster is a magnet 12 that engages the metal surface of a paper retaining bar 14. The paper retaining bar 14 also includes a serrated edge to help tear the paper strip 16 when necessary. Key chain 20 allows the user to attach keys and to thereby have the invention provide a double function of a sanitizing device and a key holding device.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the invention 100 with the cover 6 in the open position. Paper strip 16 can be seen as it exits a slot 32, travels over a resilient pad 38, through slot 34 and then out through slot 36. The paper strip is held close to the housing of the invention 100 by means of retaining bar 14. In the present embodiment, cover member 6 is hingedly connected to the housing by living hinge member 30. The paper strip is guided by side panels 24, 26 which are also made of resilient material such as dosed cell foam silicone, which is the same material that the resilient pad 38 is made from. The side panels 24, 26 rise slightly above the main pad 38 so that when the user slides the paper strip 16 across a shopping cart handle 10 from side to side as shown in FIG. 1, the strip 16 is not inclined to be pushed off of the pad 38.

FIG. 4 shows the invention 100 with the top cover 6 in the raised position, and with the paper strip 16 removed to fully reveal resilient pad 38 and to more clearly show elongate apertures 32, 34 and 36.

FIG. 5 shows a side section view of the invention as defined by section line 80 shown in FIG. 2. Paper strip 16 can be seen rolled up in a scroll fashion about shaft 44. The strip is held within a cylindrical housing 46. The housing has an exit slot 53 with a pair of resilient slot covering members 54,56 that help make the entire cylindrical enclosure air tight thereby allowing the paper strip 16 contained within to remain in a moistened state. Pocket 40 can be dearly seen and is used to store used paper strips after they have finished their function of sanitizing a handle. The used strip portion can then be removed from pocket 40 and thrown into the trash when convenient.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the invention with the side panel 22 removed. The panel is held in place by friction fit pins 60, 62 fitting into apertures 66, 64 respectively. Paper holding cartridge assembly 50 can be removed and replaced into the main housing. Resilient strips 54, 56 can be dearly seen helping to provide a relatively air tight closure 50.

When the scroll of sanitizing paper is used up, the user can remove the cartridge 50 and replace it with a new one.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the cartridge 50. Paper scroll 16 is wrapped around shaft 44. the scroll is inserted into cartridge housing 46 and threaded through a slot in the housing and between strips 54, 56. Closure cap 52 is then fastened in place over the cylindrical housing 46.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the invention turned upside down to fully reveal the absorbent cloth panel 18 that can be used to dry the shopping cart handle 10 after the user has sanitized it by sliding the moistened sanitizing paper strip 16 over the handle 10. In the preferred embodiment the cloth panel 18 can be removed and replaced by standard means, such as hook and loop fasteners, to allow the user to replace the panel 18 or to clean it.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. portable sanitizing device comprising:

a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one panel that is concave in shape;

said concave panel attached to one side wall of said rectangular housing so that said concave panel perpendicularly extends out from said side wall;

the left and right side of said concave panel each including an elongate aperture for allowing a strip of paper towel to pass through;

one side panel of said rectangular housing having an elongate aperture allowing said strip of paper towel to pass through;

a resilient closed cell foam pad;

said pad fixed to the outer surface of said concave panel;

a removable and replaceable rigid protective cover enclosing said concave surface of said housing panel;

a rigid cylindrically shaped enclosure;

said strip of paper towel forming a scroll;

said paper towel impregnated with a sanitizing liquid;

said paper scroll enclosed within said cylindrical enclosure;

said cylindrical enclosure having an elongate aperture allowing the exit of said enclosed paper towel strip;

a flexible pocket;

said pocket affixed to one outside wall of said rectangular housing;

a rectangular portion of cloth fabric;

said fabric attached to a backing panel;

said fabric and panel removably attached to one outer surface of said rectangular housing;

one side panel of said rectangular housing being removable and replaceable;

said cylindrical enclosure removably replaceable within said rectangular housing by removing said housing side panel; and

said paper towel trip threaded out of said elongate aperture of said cylindrical housing and threaded through said right side aperture of said rectangular housing and over said resilient pad and through said left side of said concave panel and out through said elongated aperture of said housing side panel.

2. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a left and right resilient side wall abut the said resilient foam pad and slidably retain said paper towel strip.

3. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a flexible pocket portion attached to one side of said rectangular housing to removably retain a used portion of said paper towel strip.

4. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a key chain ring affixed to one corner of said rectangular housing.

5. portable sanitizing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one side of said protective cover is hingably fastened to said rectangular housing and where the opposite side of said cover is removably retained to said rectangular housing by standard fastening means.