INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a dispensing device for preventing cross- contamination. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispensing device for preventing cross-contamination of a user in the context of invoking a particular item which could have been previously touched by another person. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for preventing cross-contamination.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It has been recognized for many years that people should be increasingly conscious of hygiene. It has been found that un-hygienic substances, such as types of pathogens, and the like, for example, often reside on different surfaces in public service areas.

Using public facilities poses an inherent risk of cross-contamination when surfaces which have previously been touched by other people. Such surfaces may include actuators, such as buttons, and levers, and the like, for example, for actuating flushing systems of toilets, and urinals, and the like, for example, taps, or faucets, door handles, actuators of automatic hand drying mechanisms, and the like, keypads, for example, of credit card machines, access control systems, alarm systems, Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), and the like.

While in principle vigilant cleaning schedules, the addition of active and/or passive substances in cleaning agents such as soaps could be employed to inhibit or minimize the risk of such cross-contamination, it is to be noted that this would require a huge effort, especially when dealing with frequently visited places. Furthermore, at remote places a regular cleaning service is almost impossible to maintain and proper hand washing facilities are not readily available.

The above outlined problem has also been addressed by the same inventor in EP 1978858 (A1), wherein a sanitary device is disclosed which includes a body and mounting means on the body for mounting the body on a toiletry actuation device of a toilet. A stack of leaves of material is provided on the body, the leaves of material being selectively removable so as to enable a user to actuate the toiletry actuation device by removing an uppermost leaf of material from the stack, to reveal a lower leaf of material, and then pressing on the lower leaf of material to actuate the toiletry actuation device.

In this way, a user can actuate the actuation device without having to touch the toiletry actuation device in a manner in which the user touches a surface which has been touched previously.

Other prior art apparatuses, which are directed towards solving the same or a similar problem are given below.

US 2003/0110714 A1 shows an apparatus for sanitary egress of a restroom, which includes a dispenser assembly adapted to contain and dispense a supply of sheets to a user prior to exiting the restroom through a door. The dispenser assembly is mounted either next to or directly on the door.

Document NL 1023249 C2 shows a dispenser with a plurality of sheet like or reel like adsorbent elements, which are mounted next to a urinal.

In the document GB 2327185 A, a toilet pan wipe unit is shown which includes a holster with a stacked pile of thin disposable wipes. Each of the disposable wipes can be individually detached and is equipped with a finger pull tab so as to ensure no physical contact with the wipe at disposal. Although the above identified prior art documents provide some remedy to the problem of cross-contamination, alternative dispensing devices or methods could further encourage their use when applied to other situations.

What is therefore ideally required is a dispensing device for preventing cross-contamination or a method for preventing cross-contamination which provide low installation efforts and can be operated in a cost effective manner so as to encourage the installation and distribution of those devices.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device for preventing cross-contamination, which overcomes, at least partly, the disadvantages associated with existing prior art solutions.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device for preventing cross-contamination which is both novel and involves an inventive step.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing cross-contamination, which overcomes, at least partly, the disadvantages associated with existing prior art solutions.

In this respect, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing cross-contamination which is both novel and involves an inventive step.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a dispensing device for preventing cross-contamination of a user is provided, the device comprising a body arranged to be mounted to a surface, and an internal stack of leaves, wherein the stack of leaves comprises leaves with a sticky surface capable of adhering to a finger of the user such that a first leaf of the stack of leaves is presented to the user at the outside of the body and a further leaf of the stack of leaves is dispensed for subsequent usage in case the first leaf adheres to the finger.

The dispensing device may be operable such that the further leaf is drawn out of the stack of leaves by drawing out the first leaf.

The drawing out of the further leaf may be initiated by compressing a finger on the first leaf.

Adjoining leaves of the stack of leaves may be connected to each other.

Connecting the adjoining leaves of the stack of leaves may be achieved by providing an adhesive surface section on one of the adjoining leaves of the stack of leaves.

The adhesive surface section may be formed with adhesive strength such that each leaf of the stack of leaves is releasably attached to the stack of leaves.

Adjoining adhesive surface sections may be formed on opposing ends of the respective leaves.

The adhesive strength of the adhesive surface section may be smaller than the strength to which the sticky surface adheres to the finger of the user.

The body may comprise a base member and a cover forming an opening capable of accommodating the stack of leaves. The cover may comprise a recess covering the first leaf of the stack of leaves at the outside of the body so as to guide the user's finger in an attempt to dispense the first leaf.

The cover may be releasably connected to the base member. The cover may be permanently connected to the base member.

The cover may be releasably connected to the base member by means of a hinge or clips allowing for the loading of a new stack of leaves.

The releasable connection of the cover to the base member may be secured by a locking means.

The locking means may be opened by a key. The key may be a suitable shaped card, bolt, or the like.

The body or the base member may include mounting means.

The mounting means may be a screw mount or a suction pad or a double- sided tape.

The mounting means may comprise a pivotal mount so as to adjust an angle between the body and a wall. The angle may be adjusted horizontally, vertically or anything in-between.

The mounting means may be mountable to a washroom wall, preferably next to an array of taps or urinals, inside a toilet cubicle, next to a credit-card machine or an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), next to a door or next to a cashier's till. The stack of leaves may comprise a range of materials, preferably a plastic material like PET or equally suitably layers of thin paper.

The body may comprise a plastic material or metal or a composite material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preventing cross-contamination of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing a device for preventing cross-contamination having body arranged to be mounted to a surface and an internal stack of leaves, wherein the stack of leaves comprises leaves with a sticky surface;

- adhering a first leaf to a finger of the user by mans of the sticky surface; and

- dispensing a further leaf of the stack of leaves for subsequent usage.

The step of adhering a first leaf to a finger of the user may be performed prior to flushing a toilet, compressing a urinal flush button, push on a soap dispenser, opening a tap, closing a tap, opening a door, compressing a tap button, entering one's PIN on a supermarket credit-card machine or Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), or other such uses.

The device for preventing cross-contamination may comprise a base member and a cover forming an opening capable of accommodating the stack of leaves.

The cover may be releasably connected to the base member allowing for the loading of a new stack of leaves, when the first stack of leaves has been consumed.

The cover may be permanently connected to the base member for providing a disposable device. The device for preventing cross-contamination may be mountable to a washroom wall, preferably next to an array of taps or urinals, inside a toilet cubicle, next to a credit-card machine or Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), next to a door or next to a cashier's till.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and drawings

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the following drawing in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a dispensing device according to an embodiment of the invention in a perspective view;

Figure 2 schematically shows a dispensing device according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view;

Figure 3 schematically shows a further dispensing device according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view;

Figure 4 schematically shows a further dispensing device according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view;

Figure 5 schematically shows an element of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view. Referring now to the drawings in particular the invention embodied therein will be described. In the drawing like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise indicated.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, a dispensing device for preventing cross-contamination of a user, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

As depicted in Figure 1 , the dispensing device 10 includes a body 12 arranged to be mounted to a surface, and an internal stack of leaves 20. The stack of leaves comprises leaves with a sticky surface 24 capable of adhering to a finger of the user such that a first leaf 22 of the stack of leaves is presented to the user at the outside of the body 12.

A further leaf (not shown in Figure 1) of the stack of leaves 20 is dispensed for subsequent usage in case the first leaf 22 adheres to the finger of the user. The dispensing device 10 is operated such that the further leaf is drawn out of the stack of leaves 20 by drawing out the first leaf 22, which is initiated by compressing a finger on the first leaf 22. The body 12 includes a slit-type opening 14 through which the first leaf 22 of the stack of leaves is presented to the user at the outside of the body 12.

Generally, the body 12 is capable of accommodating the stack of leaves by providing sufficient space below the slit-type opening 14. The body 12 can be fabricated a plastic material or metal or a composite material. In addition, the body 12 can be fabricated in various different forms, including rectangular, square, oval, and elliptic or any other conceivable form, when viewed from above. Accordingly, the embodiment of Figure 1 merely serves as an example, without limiting the scope of the invention. The body 12 can further include a recess 16 on the top surface 18 of the body 12, as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1. The recess 16 is covering the first leaf 22 of the stack of leaves 20 at the outside of the body 12 so as to guide the user's finger in an attempt to dispense the first leaf 22. It is to be appreciated that the recess 16 can also be provided in a way that it only partially covers the top surface 18 of the body 12. Furthermore, the recess 16 can also be arranged in a different direction, for example in a direction substantially perpendicular as compared to the embodiment of Figure 1.

According to the embodiment of Figure 1 , cross-contamination of the user can be prevented by adhering the first leaf 22 to the finger of the user by means of the sticky surface and dispensing a further leaf of the stack of leaves for subsequent usage. The step of adhering the first leaf 22 to a finger of the user can be performed by way of example prior to flushing a toilet, compressing a urinal flush button, push on a soap dispenser, opening a tap, closing a tap, opening a door, compressing a tap button, entering one's PIN on a supermarket credit-card machine or Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), or other such uses. Consequently, the user is now capable of safely touching a surface which has previously being touched by other people, using the first leaf 22 as a barrier or protection to prevent cross-contamination.

The device 10 for preventing cross-contamination will now be further described making reference to Figure 2. In Figure 2, the device 10 for preventing cross-contamination is shown in a side view.

As depicted in Figure 2, the body 12 includes mounting means 30 and 30\ The mounting means 30 and 30 ^' are used to mount the device 10 to the desired location, which can be a wall, a post, a panel or the like. It should be noted that there are many conceivable ways of mounting, which includes using screws, nails, clips or the like, and are known to the person skilled in the art. The mounting means 30 and 30 ^' can accordingly include holes for a screw mount. However, it is conceivable to use a suction pad or a double-sided tape for mounting purposes as well. The mounting means 30 and 30 ^' can be mountable to a washroom wall, preferably next to an array of taps or urinals, inside a toilet cubicle, next to a credit-card machine or to an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), next to a door or next to a cashier's till.

An alternative way of mounting means is shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the device 10 for preventing cross-contamination is again shown in a side view. The device 10 is fitted on a side opposite the top surface 18 of the body 12 with a fin 32. The fin 32 pivotally engages into a clamp 34 by means of a swivel joint 36. The mounting means 30 and 30 ^' are located on the clamp 34. The fin 32, the clamp 34 and the swivel joint 36 form a pivotal mount so as to adjust an angle between the body 12 and a wall. Accordingly the angle can be adjusted in so that the device is conveniently usable even when mounted on uneven or inclined walls.

Referring now to Figure 4, the body 12 includes a base member 42 and a cover 44 capable of accommodating the stack of leaves 20. It should be noted that the base member 42 and the cover 44 can be fabricated from the same materials but can also be fabricated from different materials.

In a first implementation of the invention, the cover 44 can be permanently connected to the base member 42. Accordingly, a disposable device 10 is provided which is initially filled with the stack of leaves 20 and disposed once all leaves have been used.

In a second implementation of the invention, the cover 44 can be releasably connected to the base member 42. Accordingly, a refillable device 10 is provided which is initially filled with the stack of leaves 20 and can be refilled with a new the stack of leaves 20 once all leaves have been used. As depicted in Figure 4, the cover 44 is releasably connected to the base member 42 by means of a hinge 45 and clips 46 and 48 allowing for the loading of a new stack of leaves. The hinge 45 and the clips 46 and 48 are located on opposite sides of the device 10. The hinge 45 is formed on the base member 42 on a protrusion 43. The clips 46 and 48 form corresponding parts which are capable of engaging into each other.

In a further implementation of the invention, the releasable connection of the cover 44 to the base member 42 is secured by a locking means, which is schematically indicated by reference numeral 50. The locking means 50 is to be opened by a key in order to prevent unauthorized opening of the device 10. The key can be a suitable shaped card, bolt, or the like.

Making now reference to Figure 5, an embodiment of the stack of leaves 20 is further outlined. Schematically, the first three leaves 22, 22 ^' and 22 ^" are shown in a side view. The stack of leaves 20 can be fabricated from a plastic material, preferably a plastic material like PET or from paper. On the top surface, the sticky surface 24 is provided by a corresponding layer of glue 60, 60 ^' and 60 ^" , for example.

Adjoining leaves of the stack of leaves are connected to each other. As shown in Figure 5, connecting of adjoining leaves 22 and 22 ^' or 22 ^' and 22 ^" , respectively, is achieved by providing an adhesive surface section 62, 62 ^' and 62" on one of the adjoining leaves of the stack of leaves. Adjoining adhesive surface sections 62, 62 ^* and 62 ^" are formed on opposing ends of the respective leaves 22, 22 ^' and 22 ^" .

In a further implementation of the invention, connecting the adjoining leaves 22 and 22 ^* or 22 ^' and 22 ^" , respectively, is achieved by using the sticky surface 24 as provided by the corresponding layer of glue 60, 60 ^' and 60 ^" instead of the adhesive surface sections 62, 62 ^' and 62 ^" . The sticky surface 24 is used to provide means for adhesion of the leaves to the finger of the user and for connecting adjoining leaves.

The adhesive surface section 62, 62 ^' and 62 ^" can be formed with adhesive strength such that each leaf of the stack of leaves is releasably attached to the stack of leaves. The adhesive strength of the adhesive surface sections 62, 62 ^' and 62 ^" can be smaller than the strength to which the sticky surface 24 adheres to the finger of the user.

Although certain embodiments only of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the invention are conceivable. Such modifications, variations and possibilities are therefore to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and hence forming part of the invention as herein described and/or exemplified.

This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.