The present invention relates to the field of anti-infective door handle covers and door handles, and in particular to anti-infective surfaces and covers for doors and door handles.

The transfer of infection, be it bacterial, viral or fungal, can be a problem in areas where there is a high throughput of people. This problem is exacerbated where those people are using toilet facilities, as this increases the risk of exposure to infectious agents. Similarly, the risk is increased where such people are immuno-compromised, for example in a hospital. Furthermore, in hospitals nurses and doctors come into contact with many patients, and therefore may inadvertently transfer infectious agents between patients. In both of the scenarios outlined above, door handles (of the toilet facilities or of the hospital wards) are a common contact point for people, and thus are a major area of potential infection transfer.

Of course, many of the problems outlined above can be overcome by using proper hygiene practice. For example, washing of the hands after using toilet facilities would help prevent the transfer of infectious agents in public toilets. Similarly, washing of the hands by medical staff in between visiting wards, and in between visiting patients, is of benefit in reducing the potential for transfer of infection. However, it is apparent that not everyone practices good hygiene when using toilet facilities, and that not all hospital staff practice good hygiene in between visiting wards and patients. This is despite the presence of "Now Wash Your Hands" posters in toilet facilities and hospitals, and public health campaigns encouraging hygienic behaviour. Clearly, it is a major challenge to change peoples' habits, and it is very difficult to coerce them into cleaning their hands. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to obviate, or at least mitigate, at least some of the drawbacks associated with the prior art.

Further aims and objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an anti- infective cover for applying to a door handle or the like, the cover comprising a hand contact surface fluidly linked to a reservoir suitable for releasably retaining disinfectant fluid.

The cover may be compressible.

A disinfectant fluid is understood to be a fluid, more particularly a liquid, gel, foam, cream or the like, comprising an anti-infective agent capable of acting against infection by inhibiting the spread of an infectious agent or by killing the infectious agent outright. Anti-infective is a general term that is understood to include at least antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and/or antiviral agents.

The reservoir may be integral to the cover. Alternatively, or in addition, the reservoir may be attached to and/or in fluid contact with the inner surface of the cover. The cover may comprise one or more conduits for the passage of disinfectant fluid from the reservoir to the hand contact surface.

Alternatively, or in addition, the cover may comprise a porous material suitable for releasably retaining disinfectant fluid, typically a porous polymer, optionally a porous elastomer material, most typically a foam material, optionally an open cell polyurethane foam material. The material may be reticulated open cell polyurethane foam. The porous material may act as a reservoir for fluid and/or as a conduit for transferring fluid to the contact surface. Alternative materials such as porous chloroprene (e.g., porous neoprene) can also be used.

The porous material has sufficient porosity to allow passage of a disinfectant fluid. Typically, the porous material is compressible. In one embodiment, the cover further comprises a cage around which the porous material is located. Typically, the cage comprises (or is made from) a flexible and resilient material. Suitable materials include polymers that can be injection moulded. Typically the material is polypropylene. The porous material may comprise an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface being a hand contact surface.

Typically the inner surface of the porous material is juxtaposed the cage. The cage may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

The porous material may be located circumferentially around the cylindrical cage. The cylindrical cage may be substantially hollow.

The cylindrical cage may have a longitudinal gap extending along its longest dimension. The porous material may have two termini and may be sized to fit around the circumference of the cage with the two termini being located in the longitudinal gap of the cage. In one embodiment, the cage further comprises one or more apertures located substantially opposite the longitudinal gap. Typically the one or more apertures are spaced substantially equidistantly. Most typically the apertures are sized and spaced such that the cage is flexible and resilient. The apertures may be rectangular.

In one embodiment the cylindrical cage comprises one or more flanges located on the end thereof, and arranged substantially perpendicular to the longest dimension of the cylindrical cage. Typically, the flanges are C- shaped.

Optionally, at least one of the flanges comprises an aperture suitable for receiving a nozzle or the like.

In one embodiment, the cylindrical cage comprises one or more tabs located on the end thereof, and arranged substantially parallel to the longest dimension of the cylindrical cage.

In one embodiment, the anti-infective cover further comprises a reserve reservoir suitable for storing fluid.

The reserve reservoir may further comprise a cartridge containing disinfectant fluid. Typically, the reserve reservoir is fluidly connected to the reservoir. The reserve reservoir may comprise a nozzle for distributing fluid to the reservoir. The nozzle may be fluidly connected to the aperture in at least one of the flanges of the cage. The reserve reservoir may be C-shaped. In one embodiment, the reservoir further comprises one or more compartments for retaining disinfectant fluid. Typically, the compartments are configured to receive a disinfectant fluid module. The compartments and/or the disinfectant fluid modules may comprise at least one semipermeable membrane.

The disinfectant fluid module may be a sachet or the like of disinfectant fluid, and the sachet or module may comprise at least one semipermeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane allows the release of fluid under certain environmental conditions. For example, the semi-permeable membrane may release disinfectant fluid when it contacts an absorbent surface, and particularly when it contacts an absorbent surface under pressure.

In one embodiment, the disinfectant fluid module acts as a reserve reservoir able to dispense fluid to the porous material, which acts as a reservoir.

The cover may have an outer surface that acts as a hand contact surface, and an inner surface that can be applied to, or that faces, a door handle, or push plate, or the like.

The cover may comprise an attachment means for holding the cover on the door handle. In one embodiment, the cage acts as an attachment means. The cover may comprise securing means for fastening or locking the cover to the door handle.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cartridge or the like for holding disinfectant fluid, said cartridge configured to fluidly connect with the anti-infective cover as described herein, and for delivery of disinfectant fluid thereto.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising an anti-infective cover for applying to a door handle or the like as described herein, and a disinfectant for use therewith.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising an anti-infective cover for applying to a door handle or the like, as described herein, and a cartridge configured to fluidly connect to the anti-infective cover, and for use therewith.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a door handle cover or the like as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an anti- infective door handle or the like, the door handle comprising a hand contact surface fluidly linked to a reservoir suitable for releasably retaining disinfectant fluid.

The door handle may be compressible. The reservoir may comprise one or more compartments for retaining disinfectant fluid. The compartments may be configured to receive a disinfectant fluid module. The disinfectant fluid module may be a sachet or the like of disinfectant fluid, and the sachet or module may comprise at least one semipermeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane allows the release of fluid under certain environmental conditions. For example, the semi-permeable membrane may release disinfectant fluid when it contacts an absorbent surface, and particularly when it contacts an absorbent surface under pressure.

The door handle may have an outer surface that acts a contact surface. The reservoir may be integral to the door handle. Alternatively, or in addition, the reservoir may be fluidly connected to the door handle.

The door handle may comprise one or more conduits for the passage of disinfectant fluid from the reservoir to the contact surface. Alternatively, or in addition, the door handle may comprise a porous polymer material, preferably a porous elastomer material, more preferably a porous chloroprene material, such as neoprene. The porous polymer material may act as a reservoir for fluid and as a conduit for transferring fluid to the contact surface. The porous polymer material has sufficient porosity to allow passage of a disinfectant fluid. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising an anti-infective door handle or the like, as described herein, and a disinfectant for use therewith.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a door handle or the like as described herein. There will now be described, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention with reference to the following Figures, of which: Figure 1 is an illustration of the internal view of one embodiment of the anti-infective door handle cover;

Figure 2 is an illustration of the external view of one embodiment of the anti-infective door handle cover;

Figure 3 shows one embodiment of a door handle cover in situ;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a cage for use with a door handle cover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of a cage for use with a door handle cover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a side view of a cage and refill cartridge for use with a door handle cover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is an aerial view of a cage for use with a door handle cover in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and Figures 8a to 8d show a porous material, a cage, a door handle cover and a door handle cover applied to a door handle in accordance with

embodiments of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown at 1 a porous chloroprene (neoprene) door handle cover having an inner surface 2 to attached to which are disinfectant sachets 3. Also shown are hook and loop (VELCRO ) fastening strips 4a, the fastening strips being attached to the inner surface 2. Spanning the shorter length of the cover are fixing straps 5 with screw apertures 9.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown at 1 a porous chloroprene (neoprene) door handle cover having an outer contact surface 6 to which is attached hook and loop fastening strips 4b. Also shown is a zip fastener 7 for opening and closing an access channel 8 which allows access to the inner surface (not shown) of the cover 1 . Spanning the shorter length of the cover are fixing straps 5 with screw apertures 9.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the cover 1 is applied to a door handle by placing the inner surface 2 in contact with a door handle (not shown) and wrapping the cover 1 around the door handle such that the hook and loop fastening strips 4a and 4b engage, thereby holding the cover 1 on the door handle. Screws (not shown) are inserted into the apertures 9 in the fixing straps 5, and are tightened such that cover is fastened, or locked, to the door handle. The zip 7 may be unfastened to allow a person access to the inner surface 2 such that the disinfectant sachets 3 can be

replenished.

In one embodiment, in use the cover is attached to a door handle in the manner described above. When a person applies force to the covered door handle (for example, by gripping the handle in order to open the door) the cover is compressed forcing disinfectant fluid from the sachets to the outer surface of the cover via the pores in the porous chloroprene material. Thus disinfectant fluid is necessarily applied to the hand of a person operating the door, and the door handle cover itself is disinfected every time it is used. When released, the contact surface draws in any excess fluid thereby minimising the risk of spillage.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown at 1 a porous chloroprene (neoprene) door handle cover having an outer contact surface 6. The cover 1 has a closed end 10 that secures the cover 1 to a door handle 1 1 , and an open end 12.

In use the cover is applied to a door handle and disinfectant may be poured into a cavity formed between the door handle and the cover, and the open end of the cover is sealed closed. When a person applies force to the covered door handle (for example, by gripping the handle in order to open the door) the cover is compressed forcing disinfectant fluid from the cavity (or reservoir) to the outer surface of the cover via the pores in the porous chloroprene material.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than having sachets, or forming a reservoir with the handle, the porous material alone acts as a reservoir for disinfectant fluid, in a sponge-like fashion. The porous material can be chloroprene or a similar suitable porous polymer that allows passage of fluid, and that is reasonably compressible to the human touch or grip. For example, the porous material may be reticulated open cell polyurethane foam (such as can be purchased from Technical Foam Services, Corby, UK).

In a further embodiment, there is provided a door handle having a porous chloroprene (neoprene) portion, and which has a surface for contacting a hand. The door handle contains compartments for holding disinfectant sachets which release disinfectant fluid when the contact surface is compressed. When released, the contact surface draws in any excess fluid thereby minimising the risk of spillage.

In an alternative embodiment of the door handle, rather than having sachets, the porous material alone acts as a reservoir for disinfectant fluid, in a sponge-like fashion. The porous material can be chloroprene or a similar suitable porous polymer that allows passage of fluid, and that is reasonably compressible to the human touch or grip. For example, the porous material may be reticulated open cell polyurethane foam.

It will be appreciated that in the case of the door handle cover and the door handle, in-built compartments for holding or retaining disinfectant fluid can be used as an alternative to sachets. Also, the compartments can be configured to receive disinfectant fluid modules. For example, sachets may be placed in any such in-built compartments. Therefore it is clear that the reservoir may be integral to the cover, and/or may be attached to the inner surface of the cover.

The hook and loop fastening strips act as an attachment means for holding the cover on the door handle, whilst the fixing straps with screw apertures act as a securing means for fastening or locking the cover to the door handle. It will be apparent that other attachment and securing means can be used. Also, the zip fastener that allows access to the inside of the cover may similarly be used to access the inside of the door handle.

However, it will be understood that there are many ways known in the art of accessing and/or refilling the disinfectant.

The disinfectant fluid module may contain a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane allows the release of fluid under certain environmental conditions, and in particular on the application of pressure. In the embodiments above that contain sachets, the semi-permeable membrane of the sachets release disinfectant fluid when they contact the porous polymer surface under pressure (i.e. when the contact surface is gripped by a hand).

Where sachets are used, they are replaced at intervals pursuant to the amount of use of the door. The sachets can be checked and replaced by cleaners who regularly attend to cleaning of public and private buildings as well as public conveniences. Similarly, refill cartridges can be replaced as and when required.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a cage 12 for use with a door handle cover. The cage 12 is substantially cylindrical in shape, having a hollow section through the centre of the cylinder, and having a longitudinal gap 13 along the length of the cylinder.

The cage 12 has a number of equally spaced rectangular apertures 14, which are shaped and/or orientated to follow the curvature of the cylinder. It will be appreciated that the apertures 14 are spaced and shaped such that the cylinder retains its structural strength and a degree of rigidity, but is also resilient and flexible. This enables the longitudinal gap 13 in the cage 12 to be temporarily expanded to be placed over a door handle, the longitudinal gap 13 returning to its original size, and the cage 12 returning to its original shape so that the cover grips the door handle. The number of apertures 14 used, their spacing, their shape and their relative size can be adjusted provided the cage 12 retains these properties.

Referring still to Figures 4 and 5, the cage 12 has two C-shaped flanges 15 located on the end thereof, and arranged substantially perpendicular to the longest dimension of the cylindrical cage 12. Other shapes of flange can, of course, be used. In this embodiment, the flanges 15 are used to abut a reticulated open cell polyurethane foam material (not shown).

Located on one of the flanges 15 is an aperture (not shown) which receives a nozzle (not shown) from a refill cartridge (not shown). In use, the cage is located on a door handle such that the aperture is located on a top flange, the other flange being a bottom flange. This orientation allows fluid from a refill cartridge to flow or drip through the aperture under the force of gravity, thus supplying disinfectant fluid to the cage, in particular to the reticulated open cell polyurethane foam material.

Again referring to Figures 4 and 5, the cage 12 comprises tabs 16 located on the end thereof, and arranged substantially parallel to the longest dimension of the cylinder. The tabs 16 extend beyond the length of cylinder in substantially same direction as the longest dimension of the cylinder, and are placed opposite the rectangular apertures 14. In use, the tabs 16 can be used to push the cover on to a door handle, or to pull the cover off a door handle, without the user having to apply pressure to the cover. This mitigates the unwanted removal/wastage of fluid, which can otherwise occur if a user applies pressure to the hand contact surface of the cover when applying or removing the cover from a door handle.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a side view of a cage 12 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. On top of the cage 12 is a refill cartridge 17, which acts as a reserve reservoir. The cage has a top flange 15a and a bottom flange 15b, the refill cartridge 17 sitting on top of the top flange

15a. The refill cartridge 17 has a nozzle 18 for delivering fluid to the cage 12, typically through an aperture (not shown) therein. The top flange 15a and nozzle 18 are shown in cross-section in Figure 6 to illustrate this. The refill cartridge also has a refill access point 19 so that further fluid can be added to the cartridge 17. Of course, this is an optional feature, and the cartridge 17 may be disposed of and replaced after a single use. The refill cartridge 17 can be C-shaped so that it may fit around tab 16.

The cage may be manufactured using conventional injection moulding techniques known in the art. In particular, the cage may be manufactured using an injection moulded polymer, such as, for example, polypropylene.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown an aerial view of a cage 12 around which a porous material (not shown) can be arranged. The cage 12 holds the porous material in place. Also shown is a refill aperture 20 for adding fluid to the porous material using a reserve reservoir (not shown), which may be in the form of a refill cartridge. The reserve reservoir may be fluidly connected to the refill aperture 20 by way of a suitable nozzle or the like (not shown).

The refill cartridge can be pressed down, releasing anti-infective fluid through a distribution nozzle into the porous material, keeping the porous material filled with anti-infective fluid. In one embodiment, the refill cartridge is placed above the porous material, the fluid dripping onto the foam by the force of gravity. Thus, the reserve reservoir may be used to produce a continuous delivery of fluid to the porous material.

Referring now to Figures 8a to 8d, there is shown a porous material 21 (8a), a cage 12 (8b), a cage 12 and porous material 21 combined to form a door handle cover 1 (8c), and a door handle cover 1 applied to a door handle 1 1 (8d). In this embodiment, the porous material 21 is wrapped around the cage 12 in a cylindrical fashion, the two extremities of the porous material 21 meeting in the longitudinal gap 13 of the cage 12. The porous material 21 is of a size that it will fit around the diameter of the cage 12, with the two extremities fitting into the longitudinal gap 13, thereby holding the porous material 21 in place. In this embodiment, the porous material 21 acts as a reservoir, and the outer surface 6 of the porous material 21 acts as a hand contact surface. The inner surface (not shown) of the porous material 21 is juxtaposed the cage 12. The porous material 21 is reticulated open cell polyurethane foam.

The cage has enough flexibility to adapt to a number of different door handle styles, while remaining resilient enough to grip the door handle when in use. Different sizes of cage can be used for different sizes of door handle.

The cover as described comprises a porous, or micro-porous, polymer material and in particular can be reticulated open cell polyurethane foam, chloroprene or neoprene. The pores act as conduits for the passage of disinfectant fluid from the reservoir to the hand contact surface. The porous material in the door handle embodiments works in the same way. It is beneficial to use an elastomeric and/or compressible material as this will compress when gripped by a user and will return to its shape when the pressure is released. This provides for the transfer and retention of fluid. The porous material can itself act as a reservoir for fluid as well as a conduit for transferring fluid to the contact surface. Therefore, the hand contact surface and the reservoir may be fluidly linked.

The door handle, or door handle cover may be provided with a disinfectant for use therewith. Such a disinfectant would normally be in fluid form.

The anti-infective cover can be applied to the vast majority of door handles or door push plates, in the manner described herein. Also, the anti- infective door handle can be attached to doors in the same way that a conventional door handle would be attached. As a disinfectant solution is necessarily dispensed onto a user's hand when they use a door with the cover or handle of the invention, their hand is involuntarily cleansed. Therefore, the need to change peoples' attitudes to hand cleaning, or the need to coerce them into hand cleaning, is avoided.

The invention as described herein will be of benefit in helping to prevent the spread of diseases such as MRSA, Acinetobacter, Clostridium Difficile, and SARs amongst others.

The invention as described herein has applications in hospitals, health centres, gymnasiums, restaurants, night clubs, prisons, schools, universities, and any other area where several people come into contact with the same door. In particular, the invention described herein will have applications in the field of healthcare where there are many different infectious agents that may be spread between immuno-compromised people by healthcare staff such as doctors and nurses.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.