Barrier-type Protection from Exposure to Community Acquired Pathogens
A barrier-type protection for the temporary covering over of handles which are likely to harbor contagions, such as those of shopping carts, and exercise machines. The barrier can be dispensed from rolls in which each barrier is separated by a perforation. A portion of the barrier has an adhesive region that can adhere to an outer portion of the barrier, so as to secure the barrier over a handle.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/459,457 filed Dec. 13, 2010
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTNot Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISCNot Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to disposable coverings, and specifically to disposable barrier protection to prevent the transfer of pathogens and soiling from one person to another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn any community setting such as a gym, a grocery store, a retailer, etc., a person will likely encounter a number of surfaces, from grocery store cart handles to exercise machine grips that have been previously handled by any number of people. The risk of transmitting a pathogen, whether bacterial or viral, statistically increases with the number of persons handling the surfaces over a relatively short period of time.
Many grocers have begun to provide disinfecting wipes at the store entrance so that consumers may wipe the handles of the grocery carts before shopping. Likewise, disinfecting wipes are provided at workout and fitness establishments for the same reasons.
Despite recent steps taken to prevent the transmittal of pathogens from contaminated surfaces to a person, infections caused by pathogens such as MRSA are on the rise and are referred to as Community Acquired Infections (CAI). One concern arising from the use of disinfectants to sterilize a surface is that most disinfectants, in order to actually disinfect, require wet contact times of 3-5 minutes on the treated surface which exceeds the patience of most consumers. Simply applying a quaternary-ammonium based disinfectant to a surface and immediately wiping clean will not eliminate surface pathogens. This fact relates to an emerging epidemiological problem: that of disinfectant resistance.
While pathogens cannot survive indefinitely on metallic or vinyl surfaces: they do survive long enough to possibly infect a person in contact with the surfaces.
What is needed is a disposable barrier-type protection that may be readily applied to shopping cart handles, bed rails, workout equipment handles and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect of the invention, the barrier assumes a tubular structure when wrapped over a tubular handle.
In another aspect of the present invention, the barrier may be wrapped around a tubular handle and the ends connected with an integrated adhesive that is fused into a material substrate such as paper or plastic, or any substrate accepting of the adhesive. The barrier may be disposable and provided on rolls with perforations for separating the barrier from the roll.
In another aspect of the invention, the barrier is re-useable and washable and may be constructed on fabric, vinyl, plastic, an elastomer, or any suitable material so as to provide washability and durability.
In the re-useable aspect, the barrier may have a longitudinally biased core like that of a spring measuring tape so as to tensionably coil about a tubular handle. In this case, the core may possess a protective outer covering made of a flexible plastic or an elastomer such as silicone.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the barrier telescopes to cover an exposed handle.
In still another aspect of the invention, the barrier is tubular and constructed of a resilient foam, plastic, or other material best suited for the intended use, with a longitudinal slit for application to a handle.
In either case of re-useable or disposable-type barriers, the barrier are removable. The material utilized for the barrier can have antimicrobial properties such as embedded titanium dioxide or nano-silver. In the case of the disposable-type barrier, the barrier may be constructed of a paper and may be removed by tearing the barrier away from the handle in cases where the handle is a loop, or simply slipping the barrier free of a handle with an exposed end.
One object of the present invention prevent cross-contamination of surfaces.
Another object of the present invention is assist in preventing Community Acquired Infections.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of liquid disinfectant being improperly applied.
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, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
- 10′ barrier cover
- 12 dispensing roll
- 14 inner surface of cover
- 14a non-adhesive pull-away strip
- 14b perforations
- 15 collapsible folds
- 16 outer surface of cover
- 18 adhesive region
- 20 longitudinal slit
- 22 non-adhesive corridor
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In order to use the barrier, a user (1) tears away a single barrier from the roll 12, and (2) if the peel-away strip is included, peels away the strip 14a, and (3) wraps the barrier around a handle of a shopping cart, exercise machine or the like, taking care to (4) position portions of the barrier lacking adhesion over the handle, and wrapping the barrier so that the cover adheres to itself, forming a barrier covering, and (5) when the handle is to be cleaned, or another barrier fixed thereto, quickly and easily removing the barrier by tearing it free of the handle.
While it is intended that barriers dispensed from the roll are disposable, conceivably, the dispensed barriers can be reused and thereby transferred by a user to another handle if the adhesive strip possesses low tack and the barrier material is sufficiently durable. The barrier material therefore, can be paper of sufficient thickness, plastic, foam, or a composite of the foregoing materials.
In lieu of an adhesive region, the barrier can be closed by means of snap fasteners (not shown).
The barrier can possess a antimicrobial element such as silver zeolite which would be coated on, or impregnated into the inner or outer surface.
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While the invention has been described by the embodiments given, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth. For example, although the embodiments depict a rectangular barrier, it is not intended that the barrier be limited to a particular shape, and can be any shape as will suggest itself to those having skill in the art; and as required to fit over non-cylindrical handles. Accordingly, the invention is intended to encompass such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.
Claims
1. A barrier protection for covering handles comprising:
- 1) a length of substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface,
- 2) at least one adhesive region of the inner surface that can adhere to the outer surface, and,
- 3) at least one non-adhesive corridor for placement against a covered surface.
2. The barrier protection of claim 1, in which the barriers are disposable.
3. The barrier protection of claim 1, in which the barriers dispensed on a roll and separated by perforations.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 13, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2012
Inventor: Elaine Reyes Kunkleman (Boyd, TX)
Application Number: 13/323,872
International Classification: B65D 65/28 (20060101);