GB2500400A - A user engaged door engagement element with replaceable hygienic contact surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A user engagement element 1 for a door, such as a door handle or fingerplate, for engagement by a user to move the door between an open and closed position comprises a body section 2 configured to be secured to a door, and an engagement section 4 configured to be engaged by a user to apply a force thereto to move said to door. Releasable connection means (32, fig.2) is provided to releasably connect the engagement section 4 to the body section 2 to enable the engagement section, e.g. handle, to be replaced. The surface of the engagement section contacted by the user comprises an antimicrobial material which may comprise silver ions. The engagement element may be a static handle bar screwed to two mounting brackets or a replaceable finger/push plate having a base plate screwed to a door and a replaceable cover snap fitted by resilient clips to the base.

Description

A USER ENGAGEMENt ELEMENt FOR A DOOR The present invention relates to a user engagement element for a door, and in particular to a door handle having a replaceable antimicrobial component..

Preventing the spread of bacterial diseases is an ongoing and serious problem within hospitals. In recent years the emergence of strains of bacteria which are increasingly resistant to antibiotics such as MRSA has focused attention on this problem. This focus has lcd to the rates of bacterial discascs such as MRSA falling because of increascd awareness of the infection by both medical stall and the public. however, MRSA still places a considerable strain on healthcare services.

To prevent the spread of MRSA and stop infection, hospital staff, patients and hospital visitors are encouraged can take simple hygiene measures such as repeated hand washing [5 and the use of a fast-acting antiseptic solution like a hand wipe or hand gel with dispensers being positioned at multiple locations around hospitals such as by patients' beds and at the entrance to clinical areas to ensure hands are cleansed on entering and leaving wards, Regular and thorough cleansing regimes are also essential. However, while such measures arc effective in reducing the spread of bacterial diseases, the complete eradication of such diseases is unlikely to be achieved through such measure alone.

It has been identified that door handles contribute significantly to the spread of infectious microbial diseases. Bacteria carried on the hands are readily transferred on contact.

Surfaces such as door handles are engaged constanfly throughout the course of day by a multitude of people, and bacteria deposited on a door handle by a person is readily transferred to the hands of those people contacting the handle subsequently. The use of antimicrobial materials is known to assist in lowering the spread of infection by reducing the levels of bacteria on frequeniJy engaged object.s such as door handles. The use of materials incorporating silver ions has been shown t.o be particularly effective against illness causing bacteria such as MRSA, EColi and Salmoncfla. However, it has been found that the antimicrobial action of such silver ion containing materials diminishes in efficacy over time. Therefore, the use of such materials in installations such as door handles is

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avoided as the requirement to replace such items on a regular basis is both costly and can lead to damage of doors as screw fixings arc regubrly removed and reintroduced.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved anl.inücrobial door handle which addresses the above described problems and/or which offers improvements generally.

According to the present. invention there is provided a user engagement elemeni for a door as described in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a user engagement. element for a door for manual engagement by a user In move the door between an open and closed position, the user engageable element comprising a body section configured to he secured to a door; and an engagement section configured to he engaged by a user to apply a force thereto to move said to door; releasable connection means configured to releasably connect the [5 engagement secl.ion to the body section t.o enable the mleasahle connect.ion means to be removed from the body section and replaced. Fhc surface of the engagement section is arranged to he contacted by the user comprises an antimicrobial material. The engagement element is any element. secumd to a door which is gripped, pushed or otherwise engaged by a person to operate the door. The engagement element is preferably a door handle or finger plate, hut may also hc a rccess, lip, ridge or any othcr element which permits the force froni a user to he transferred to a door.

The antimicrobial material is prcfcrahly a material comprising silver ions. Silver ionic (Ag+) material has been shown to achieve 99.9% reduction in MRSA and E.Coli within one hour.

The body section preferably comprises a bracket configured to connect to and support the engagement secl.ion. The bracket nmay be used to space the antimicrobial handle section froni the surface of the door and provide a spacing to enable the handle to be gripped. The bracket also provides a secure anchor to which the releasable, replaceable handle can he secured.

The engagement section preferably comprises a rigid member configured to transfer a force from the user to the door to cause movement of the door. I orming the rigid engagement section of the handle such that the contact surface includes an antimicrobial material obviates the requirement for providing a separate him or cover to the handle, with such covers being prone to degradation and damages, as well as having a generally unpleasing aesthetic quality.

The body section and the engagement section are preferably arranged such that any force applied to the engagement section is transferred to the door via the body section. In this way the engagement. section directs the full user force to the door via the door, which prevents the user from having to eontacL any other element of the door and therehy transferring bacteria to non-antimicrobial surfaces.

The body section comprises preferably comprises a bracket configured to be secured to a [5 door and the engagement element comprises an elongat.e member defining a handle section which is arranged to be gripped by a user to move the door. At least the surface of the handle section arranged to he gripped may comprises an antimicrobial material. It is the gripped surface t.o which any bacteria may he transferred which is arranged t.o include antimicrobial material. ibis may take the form of a surface coating which may for example be a spray coating or lamination. Alternatively the subsfratc material of the handle may contain antimicrobial material such as silver ions.

The body section may comprise a pair of spaced apart brackets which arc arranged to he interconnected by said handle section when said handle section is connected thereto. The releasable connection means may comprise connection means br connecting each of the brackets to a corresponding end of the handle section.

The releasable connection means preferably comprises at least. one elongate rod contigured to extend through a bore within the handle, the rod being securable to the brackets and configured such that when received within the handle and secured to the brackets release of the handle from the brackets is prevented and when released from the brackets removal of the haixile is pennit.ted. The rod secures the handle to the brackets, and also provides increased structural integrity, reinforcing and strengthening the handle section. As such, while an aluminium handile is preferred, a non metallic material such as plastic may be uscd for example to reduce cost or provide an alternative finish, with thc rods ensure that the handle remains able to withstand the required forces.

ftc releasable conncction mcans preferably compriscs at least two rods configured to extend through the handle and secure to the brackets. The pair of rods rotationally fix the rods and prevent twisting.

Thc uscr cngagcahlc clcmcnt may a finger plate and the cngagcmcnt section may comprisc a rigid plate member configured to he pushed by a user to move the door. lii (he broadesi.

definition of the term as contemplated by the claimed invention, tandle' may he taken to include any user engageable clement, including finger plates.

l'he releasable connection means may comprise at least one projection extending from one [5 of the plate and the bracket configured to he received and held by a corresponding recess on the other of the plate and thc bracket. At least one of the projections and the at least one recess comprise corresponding camming sections arranged such that as the projection is slidingly received within the recess the caniming section cooperate to hold (he projection within the recess to secure the plate to thc body section, with sliding of projection in the opposing direction permitting release of the plate from the body section.

I'he present invention will now he described by way of example only with reference to the following illustrative figures in which: Figure 1 shows a door handle according to an embodiment of [he invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the handile of Figure 1; I igure 3 shows a cross sectional view of an alternative handle according to an enihodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a finger plate according io an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows an exploded reverse view of the linger plate of l"igurc 4; and Figure 6 shows a linger plat.e according io a further embodiment of the invention; A door handlle 1 comprises a body section 2 and a handle section 4. The body section comprises a pair olhrackets 6 and 8 which are spaced and interconnected by the handle section 4. The brackets 6 and 8 include counter sunk screw holes 10 for screwing the brackets to a door in a semi-permanent manner. The brackets 6 and 8 are substantially Jr shaped and comprise a first fixing section 12 including the apertures 10 for fixing the [5 brackets to a door. The second fixing section 14 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first fixing section 12 and extends outwardly therefrom. Both the first fixing section 12 and second fixing section 14 are substantially planer and each of the brackets 2 are arranged such thai. the planer surface of the second fixing section 14 is substantially horizontal where the handle is to he arranged vertically or vertical where the handle is to he arrangcd horizontally. Whichcver the orientation of thc handle for thc brackets arc arranged such thai. the planer surface of the second fixing sections 14 are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ol the handle 4.

As show in Figure 2 the handle 4 comprises a hollow elongate body 18 formed as an extrusion oVa rigid material such as aluminium. The handle 4 has a longitudinal axis defined along its length. The handle 4 comprises a substantially truncated oval cross section and includes a front face 20, a rear face 22, and side edges 24. Internally the handle comprises a pair of channels 26 running along the inner edges of the body 18, each channel 26 including a bore 28 extended along it.s length. A hollow section 30 is defined centrally along the length of the handle 4 by the inner surfaces of the wall 18 and the inwardly facing outer surfaces of the channels 26.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the bores 28 are spaced to correspond to the spacing of the apertures 16 formed in the brackets 6 and 8. [he openings to thc bores 28 at either end of the handle 4 are threaded to receive corresponding threaded fasteners 32 which were inserted through the apertures 16 of the brackets 6 and 8 t.o screw the handle 4 to the brackets 6 and 8.

The aluminium handle 4 is spray coated in a high performance anti microbial material.

Preferably the anti microbial coating provides an anti microbial material including silver ions (Ag+). The silver ions in thc coating intcract with the microbial cells such as bacteria to kill or inhibit growth of the cells. This may he through interaction with sulfhydryl groap's olproLeins inhibition olcell wail synthesis during mitosis, disabling of the cells proton pump, unwinding of the cell DNA and/or interruption of hydrogen bonding proccsscs within the cell. Microorganisms such as hacteria will he exposed to the active componeni, ionic silver, iniinediately on contact with the anti microbial surface coating.

[5 On cont.act the silver ions begin to enter the cell and effect. the desired change. There is however some deky in this action and as such the anti microbial action is not instantaneous, hut will however occur. Therefore, the coating may not prevent immediate onward transfer of the bacteria following secondary contact with the surface. However the anti microbial action does help limit or reduce the microbial burden on the surface as the silver ions effect the bacteria over time, with 99.9% of bacteria typically being killed within the space of approximately an hour. Over time the antimicrobial action of the silver ions within the coating material degrades. Iberefore, at periodic intervals the handk section 4 is removed and replaced with new handle section having an as yet unused and fully active silver ionic antimicrobial surface coating.

To remove and replace the handle section 4 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the screws 32 are released and the handle 4 is able to he withdrawn between the brackets 6 and 8. A replacement. handle is then put into location and the screws 32 reinserted to secure and lock the handle section 4 to the brackets 6 and 8.

An alternative releasable system is shown in Figure 3 in which the handle section 4 is shown in cross section. Replacement screws 32 the handle 4 comprises a pair of rods 34 which extend longitudinafly along the length of the handle 4 within the bores 28. The rods 34 have an expanded diameter at the lower end 36 and the apertures 38 in the lower bracket 8 arc correspondingly larger than the apertures 40 in the upper bracket 6. To fix thehandle4tothebracketstothehandle4isalignedwiththebracketssuchthatthebore s 28 align with the apertures 38 and 40. The rods 34 are inserted through the apertures 38 of the lower bracket 8. The lower ends 36 and upper ends 42 of the rods 34 are threaded.

The apertures 38 and 40 include corresponding threads. The upper ends 42 of the rods 34 extend through the enlarged diameter apertures 38 without interference with the threads thereof.

to Astherods34engagetheupperapertures40theyaremtaledfmmthelowerend3ô,for example using a screwdiiver which may be inserted in corresponding slots in the lower end 36 causing the threads of the upper end 402 to engage with the threads of the upper apertures 40. Simultaneously the threads of the lower end 36 engage with the lower apertures 38. Once the rods 34 are screwed in the corresponding apertures the handle 4 is locked in position relative to the brackets 2. The colons between the rods 34 and the inner diameter of the bores 28 is selected to allow a smooth sliding fit without any significant lateral movement between the two components being permitted to provide the handle with a solid feel and prevent rattle.

Forming the rigid handle components fium a material having an anti microbial component is significantly superior and attempting to cover an existing handle arrangement and anti microbial film, sleeve or cover. Providing the anti microbial material has an identical pail.

of the handle, and in particular by forming the rigid component engaged by the user with an anti microbial component provides significant advantages, most noticeably in tenns of structural integilty and resistance to wear and degradation over retroflt solutions such as films etc. Although releasably connected to the body section, the releasable connection is designed such that when the handle section is connected to the body section the two rods form a solid structural handle arrangement which can only be separated by moving the releasable connection to the appropriate position, for example by unscrewing the connection rods.

In an alternative arrangement show in Figure 4 the handle 101 is a finger plate arrangement configured to be pushed against by a user to move a door. The finger plate and handle 101 uses a base panel 102 and an engagement plate 104. the base panel 102 is formed of a rigid material, and may he formed for example from nioulded plastic. The plate 102 includes multiple apertures through holes 110 to enable the plate 102 to be screwed to a door. Other securing means for securing (he base plate 102 may be provided, for example adhesive. Ihe engagement push plate 104 is configured to substantially cover the base plate 102. The engagement plate 104 is elongated and substantially rectangular and planer in shape. The plate 104 may be formed from a rigid moulded plastic material or press formed from aluminium or other material. Ilie outer engagement surface 106 of the engagement plate 104 against which a user presses their hand to push the plate is coated in an antimicrobial silver ionic material.

The base plate 102 includes a plurality of attachments 108 formed at its peripheral edges.

As shown in figure 5 the push plate 104 includes a lower catch mcmhcr 110 and an upper catch member 112. the lower catch 110 is configured to he received within a t5 corresponding slot 114 in the base of the base plate 102 and the upper catch 112 is configured to look over and engage within recess 116 of the upper end of the base plate 102. The secure the push plate 104 to the base plate 102 the push plate 104 is aligned with the base plate 102 in a vertically offset manner such that. the catches 110 and 112 are positioned above their respective slots 114 and 116. the base plate 114 is pushed into engagement with the base plate 112 and slid downwardly such that the catch 110 is received within the slot 114 and the catch 112 clips over the upper end of the base plate 102 and is received within these slots 116. In this locked position the push plate 104 is unable to he moved away from the base plate 102 in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the base plate 102 and to the face of the door to which it is connected. As any force provided by the user is in this perpendicular direction the force does not act to move the push plate 104 away from the hase plate 102.

Further securement between the push plate 104 and t.he base plat.e 102 is provided by lugs 118 which extend inwardly from the inner surface of a wall 120 extending from t.he inner surface of the push plate 104. the lugs 118 are positioned to correspond to the slots 108 of the base plate 102. The slots 108 have an expanded upper end and a tapered camming surface and are positioned such that the lugs are received within the expanded section in the initial vertically offset engagement position and as the push plate 104 is slid downwardly (he lugs 118 engage with the camniing surface of the slots 108 which urge the Jugs 18 outwardly to further restrain and Jock the plate 104 against the base pJatc 102. lo remove the push plate 104 for replacement the push plate 104 is engaged and pushed upwardly with sonic force to disengage t.he lugs from the slots 108 and to remove the S catches 110 and II 2 from their respective sJots 114 and 116.

In a yel. further enibodinient shown in Figure 6 a finger plate arrangement 201 comprises a base paneJ 202 and an engagement pJate 204. ftc base panel 202 is formed of a rigid material and includes multiple apertures 210 to enable the plate 102 to he screwed to a door. The base plate 202 further includes spigot.s or bosses 208 which project from the base pbte 202. Each boss 208 comprises a threaded bore configured to receive corresponding screws 212. The screws 212 extend though corresponding screw holes 214 in the engagement plate 204 to releasahly connect the engagement plate 204 to the base 202. In this way the engagement plate 204 mat be unscrewed from the base plate 202 for t5 replacement leaving the base plate 202 screwed to the door, thereby obviating the requirement to unscrew the entire handle assenibJy from the door kading to damage and eventually failure of the screw holes in the door.

WhiJst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should he understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinhelore relerred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particuJar emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS1. A user engagement element for a door for manual engagement by a user to move the door between an open and closed position, the user engageahie element. comprising: a body section configured to he secured to a door; an engagement section configured to he engaged by a user to apply a force thereto t.o move said to door; and releasable connection means configured to releasably connect the engagement scction to the body scction to cnablc thc rclcasahlc conncction mcans to hc removed from the body section and replaced; wherein the surface of the engagement section arranged to he contacted by the user comprises an antimicrobial material.
2. 2. A user engagement element according to claim I wherein (he anhmicrobial [5 material is a mal.erial comprising silver ions.
3. 3. A user engagement element according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the body section comprises a bracket configured to connect I.o and support (he engagement. section.
4. 4. A user engagcmcnt clement according to any preceding claim whcrcin the engagement secl.ion comprises a rigid member configured t.o transfer a force from the user o the door to cause movement of [lie door.
5. 5. A user engagement element according to claim 4 wherein the body section and the engagement section are arranged such that any force applied to the engagement section is transferred to the door via the hody section.
6. 6. A user engagement element according to any preceding claim wherein the body section comprises a bracket configured to be secured to a door and t.he engagement element comprises an elongate member defining a handle section which is arranged to he gripped by a user to move the door, and wherein at least the surface of the handle section arranged t.o be gripped comprises an antimicrobial material.
7. 7. A user engagement element according to claim 6 wheiein (he body section comprises a pair of spaced apart brackets which are arranged to be interconnected by said handle section when said handle section is connected thereto.
8. 8. A user engageable clement according to claim 7 wherein the releasable connection means comprises connection means for connecting each of the brackets to a corresponding end of (he handle section.
9. 9. A user engageable clement according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the releasable connection means comprises a elongate rod configured lo ex(end through a bore within the handle, the nid being securable to the brackets and eon ligured such that when received within the handle and secured to the brackets release of the handle from the brackets is prevented and when released from the brackets removal of the handle is permitted.

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10. 10. A user engagement element according to claim 9 wherein (he releasable connection means comprises at least two rods configured to extend through the handle and secure to the brackets.
11. II. A user engageable element according to any one of claims I to 5 wherein the user engageable element is a finger plate and the engagement section comprises a rigid plate member configured to he pushed by a user to move the door.
12. 12. A user engagement element according to claim 11 wherein the releasable connection means comprises at least one projection extending from one of the plate and the bracket configured to he received and held by a corresponding recess on the other of the plate and the bracket.
13. 13. A user engagement element according to claim 11 wherein the projection and the recess comprise corresponding camming sections arranged such that as the projection is slidingly received within the recess the camming section cooperate to hold the projection within the recess to secure the plate to the body section, with sliding of projection in the opposing direction pennitting release of (he pla(e from (he body section.
14. 14. A user engagement element substanlially as hereinbefore described with reference to, andlor as shown in figures to 5.