Technological Area:

This invention is about a method for surface disinfection and a disinfection device with radiation source disinfecting surfaces for door handles, railings and similar objects.

Current Situation of the Technique:

Like all other living beings, microorganisms feed and reproduce when they find a suitable environment. These harmful microorganism kinds may overthrow the human body defense mechanisms in situations such as various diseases, low body resistance etc. To protect from kinds such as bacteria, virus and microbes categorized under harmful microorganisms, disinfection of things like door handles are also very important as well as personal hygiene for they are places we touch with hands during day. It's particularly important to provide a persistent and continuous disinfection performance for the disinfection of door handles and other tools and the prevention of virus transmission and to fully disinfect the surfaces especially in medical and/or healthcare sector. In general, objects like door handles in these places are being touched by various people and that's why risk of virus transmission is increased as a result of this contact. Full and safe disinfection is an essential especially in medical and healthcare sector. For this reason, it's important in terms of human health to correctly and adequately fulfil the cleaning and disinfection process of these kinds of surfaces we touch such as door handles.

In conclusion, there's a need for a new technology that can overcome the disadvantages mentioned above and enables disinfection of door handles in time and appropriately. Definition of Invention:

In the invention, there's at least one door handle or a part of it with a surface at least partly made of metallic material and at least one radiation source designed as a part of the door handle of parts of it. With the device, it's shown that it's advantageous to be able to substantially and fully disinfect and/or sterilize the surface of a door handle. Transmission of pathogenic microbes through contact or infection can be effectively prevented.

Sterilization process can be arranged and/or controlled advantageously with at least one control unit. For instance, the time and/or intensity of sterilization can be controlled and arranged and radiation emission from at least one radiation source can be controlled through at least one control unit. At least one radiation source is designed to be connected to at least one control unit and can be controlled and arranged by the control unit. This especially takes effect when people approaches the device and while the device is on and activates with at least one radiation and/or energy source on a predetermined surface for instance. At least one control unit advantageously arranges the radiation emission from at least one radiation source. This happens as a function of a preset time interval. Control unit can be advantageously designed as a microprocessor, a processor or suchlike. With at least one control unit, the impact of at least one radiation medium can be advantageously increased to get a higher radiation intensity thus a shorter disinfection time. In addition, the device has a power feeding source to operate the device. As mentioned above, the power feeding source can be designed as a battery or grid connection. Here, it's proven that it's advantageous for the battery variant to provide a few AA cells. These have the advantage of providing adequate energy for a few thousands disinfection steps. And the power feeding source is advantageously connected to at least one control unit. For instance, the control unit can record and/or keep and/or compare the number of cleaning cycles and this way, a signal is sent to at least one display medium for a specified numerical value of cleaning cycles for instance and this shows the approaching people the regarding screen to replace the battery. This can be made in yellow color for instance. In addition, as an alternative, it can be considered to be designed in a way to enable the detection of power source capacity and also advantageously display it optically. Power source is advantageously placed on the door installation. This of course, should not be taken as a limitation, that's why it's also considered to be designed in a way to set the power feeding source connected to at least one power grid with a suitable connection. Technology required for this is provided advantageously on door installation or inside and/or outside the door.

Conical design of the door handle subject to invention is advantageous. This can allow the UV radiation emitted from at least one radiation source to fully reach the surface. In addition, the invention has at least one radiation source that's not ozone generating to disinfect and/or sterilize at least one surface area of door handle or parts of it. This is particularly advantageous in interiors or offices because ozone contamination in such places should always be kept low for humans. Besides it's proven that it's advantageous to design at least one radiation source as a part of the door handle or elements of it. This enables the frequently used door handle or parts of it to stay always sterilized and/or disinfected. Through at least one radiation source, a pre-specifiable surface area can be exposed to at least one radiation and/or energy and this way the exposed surface area does not substantially contain any microbes and/or viruses and/or bacteria and/or fungi. In another advantageous arrangement, at least one radiation source can be used as a permanently integrated part of the door handle or a detachable one on at least one support apparatus. Door handle can be arranged as a part of the door handle. It's advantageous to setup at least one radiation source as a part of the door handle because this allows the door handle surface to be aligned adjacently and this way a particularly effective disinfection and/or sterilization of the door handle can be made. Users involve their hands nearly all the time to open a door, this way, microbes, bacteria, viruses and the likes accumulate on door handle when touched with hand. In addition, it's proven that it's advantageous for at least one radiation source readily and solidly setup on door handle and hence tightly attached on it. This can be made during the door handle manufacture for instance, this way the door handle and at least one radiation source can be manufactured as a single part, for instance with injection molding process. This is advantageous because eventually at least one radiation source is arranged stable in terms of location. This fully prevents undesired bending and incorrect radiation. This of course should not be taken as a limitation, this way it can be considered for at least one radiation source can be placed on door handle with suitable fixation mechanisms. This can be made as detachable for instance, this way at least one radiation source can be arranged on door handle releasable by means of a suitable bearing material. This can be made with a magnetic coupling for instance. This arrangement should not be taken as a limitation as well, this way it can be considered for at least one radiation source to be manufactured separately from at least one door handle but then tightly attached on it, stuck on it for instance. In another advantageous arrangement, at least one radiation source can be designed as a UV source. It's proven that it's particularly advantageous to use at least one UVC radiation source that does not involve ozone generation.

It's proven that the design with UVC radiation source is advantageous for the radiation being at the range of 255 nm to 280 nm wavelength. This wavelength is enough to inactivate and/or kill and/or terminate microorganisms like viruses and/or bacteria, this way it's not possible anymore for microorganism recovery or growth.

UVC radiation source can be advantageously setup from at least one of a few radiation units. It's proven here that it's advantageous to design at least one radiation unit as LED, OLED and/or SMD. This way it's able to guarantee a low energy consumption for and/or per disinfection step. It's proven that it's particularly more effective for at least one radiation unit to emit UVC radiation between 251-300 nm and more advantageously 255-280 nm, in terms of killing microorganisms. These wavelengths are enough to inactivate and/or kill and/or terminate microorganisms like viruses and/or bacteria, this way it's not possible anymore for microorganism recovery or growth. This way, so said microorganisms are no longer pathogenic and eventually no longer dangerous for the person contacting. In another advantageous arrangement, at least one radiation source, arrangement or geometry may have one or more radiation units designed in a way to correspond to at least one vertical crosscut of the door handle. It's proven here that it's particularly advantageous for radiation units to be located in a way to hit the door handle surface as bright as possible and substantially homogeneously. UV radiation emitted from at least one radiation unit is advantageously directed substantially horizontally. This avoids scattering radiation and protects users. This horizontally emitted UV radiation is directed to a horizontally arranged door handle. For instance, it's shown that it's advantageous to setup a few radiation units close the open end of the door handle if the door handle is cylindrical and flat. A particular arrangement of radiation units is circular. The diameter of this circular shape composing a carrier and at least one radiation unit is advantageously equal or bigger than the diameter of the cylindrical door handle. When these radiation units emit UVC radiation, the surface or more precisely the outer surface of the cylindrical door handle is exposed to UVC radiation. Application is advantageously made from the side and/or out meaning from the open end of the door handle. In addition, the door handle surface may be exposed to radiation from the outside but it's not limited with this. For this purpose, at least one radiation unit, more advantageously more than one radiation units can be setup peripherally around the whole door handle surface. At least one radiation unit is setup in a way to apply UVC radiation at least a part of the door handle surface. For instance, if there's more than one radiation unit setup, the center point of each radiation source is advantageously arranged on the door handle surface and/or is exactly even with it. This provides effective sterilization. For this reason, circular shape is also advantageous because not only the surface facing the user is disinfected and/or sterilized but at least the whole part of the door handle closed with hand. This way, it's provided to fulfil a simple, energy-saving and effective cleaning. UVC radiation emitted by radiation units is particularly advantageous when substantially parallel. Door handle surface is directed. It should of course not be taken as a limitation for the setup of a few radiation units in circular form, for this reason, it can also be considered to arrange radiation units in any polygonal shape, rectangular or square for instance. Locating radiation units always depends on the design of door handle geometry. Besides, it should not be taken as a limitation for providing many radiation units, that's why it can be considered for instance a single radiation unit to have a circular, rectangular or any polygonal geometry. In this case, a single radiation source is enough to effectively move on the contaminated surface regarding UVC radiation or at least to bind it partly. This of course should not be taken as a limitation because curved or other types of curved door handles can also be exposed to UVC radiation from at least one radiation unit. For this purpose, miscellaneous reflector tools are advantageously provided. For sterilizing and/or disinfecting contaminated surfaces, a few mJ energy is particularly and advantageously enough to harm and/or kill and/or inactivate the microorganisms accumulated on the surface. In another advantageous arrangement, deozonized UVC radiation emitted by at least one radiation source can be partly connected to the door handle and directed longitudinal along the surface of that part of the door handle. Half of the radiation is advantageously directed along the contaminated surface and other half is directed along the transparent and translucent material. By connecting to the transparent material radiation is refracted and deflected off its' direction. This way, disinfection and/or sterilization can be improved further and made particularly effective. This of course should not be as a limitation, so that rather than 90 to 10, 80 to 20, 70 to 30 half coupling and irradiation, it can be adjusted as 60 to 40, 40 to 60, 30 to 70, 20 to 80 or 10 to 90. All quantitative relations here also apply in exposure. It's proven here that it's advantageous to arrange at least one radiation source on the open end of a door handle. Alternatively, and/or as an addition, it can also be considered to arrange at least one radiation source at the end attached to the door handle. Both end arrangement has the advantage of at least one radiation source not disturbing the user and even so at least one radiation source emitting radiation quite effectively. In another advantageous arrangement, it can have at least one identifying tool to identify humans connected to at least one control unit at the same time, the control unit and identifying tool are the parts of the door apparatus. This is advantageous when someone approaches the device and the device activates the radiation source. When someone approaches the active device meaning the device emitting UVC radiation, at least one sensing tool can sense someone approaching and accordingly send a signal to the control unit. Control unit in turn detects this input signal as an occasion to deactivate at least one radiation source. With detection at least one signal and/or data value is advantageously transmitted to the control unit. Control unit then directly regulates at least one radiation source and stops the application on surface then to be cleaned. This ensures that nobody is harmed and accidentally exposed to UVC radiation. Sensing tool is advantageously a part of the door apparatus. But in another step, it can be considered for the control unit to take this input signal as an occasion to control at least one display device sending at least one optical and/or acoustical signal which's interpreted as a warning signal by the approaching person. At least one screen shows that cleaning process is not completed yet and the person is not allowed to use door handle yet. At the same time, at least one radiation source stays active. When cleaning process is then completed and door handle surface is disinfected and/or sterilized, control unit may send a signal corresponding the display device and this signal, an optical and/or acoustical one for instance, is then wans the person and door handle can be used. It's proven that it's particularly advantageous to at least one sensing tool to be designed as n IR sensor and/or motion sensor. In addition, it's proven that it's advantageous for at least one sensing tool to simultaneously sense when the door handle is used. This way, after used by a user irradiation process can be initiated in order to use the door handle again in time. This sensing tool can be designed as a tilt sensor or a capacitive sensor. In addition, UV radiation source, more advantageously individual radiation units can be made to be activated only when at least one sensing tool detects that there are no humans within a prespecified sensing diameter. This diameter can be 0.5 m to 1.5 m for instance. If someone enters within this diameter, at least one sensing tool provided for this can sense the existence through motion or infrared radiation for instance, this way at least one radiation unit and/or radiation source is closed by the control unit and substantially applied at the same time while entering into the safety diameter. For instance, an optical and/or audible warning signal may accompany this and shows that disinfection and/or sterilization process is going on or completed. But if the person continues to get closer to the door handle, radiation exposure is completely closed off. In another advantageous arrangement, the device can also have at least one display device that can be connected to at least one controller unit. In the simplest case, this display device can be designed as a light element such as a LED for instance. Purpose of display devices are to ensure the approaching person understands whether the door handle is previously sterilized and/or disinfected. In this case, door handle is ready to be used. Display device shows a green color for instance. This way, approaching person understands without hesitation that he/she can use the door handle. In addition, it can be considered for the display device to show a red color while door handle's disinfection and/or sterilization is already on going. This way, approaching person knows that he/she should be patient for a short while at best until the advantageously timed disinfection process is completed and the display device shows a green color. It can also be considered for the display device to show a yellow color. This again shows a possible malfunction and a check is required. This may apply for instance when batteries and/or cells are needed to be replaced for a more capacitive function if for instance the power source provided for the device is in battery form. Finally, it can be considered for the display device to have a blinking function or an optical and/or acoustical warning function indicated with a signal tone. When optical and/or acoustical warning function is heard, the device should be immediately checked as at least one structural unit and/or component is not working as original anymore. At least one display device may come out as a status indication for instance. For this reason, in an advantageous arrangement status indication may be made by a LED blinking periodically within the visible light range. At least one display device is particularly designed in a way to be able to be advantageously connected to at least one controller unit and exchanges data and/or signal with at least one controller unit. It's advantageous for at least one display device being a part of the door handle or door apparatus. It's an advantage particularly for providing a good view for the approaching user. Device described in here can be used universally to be replaced by any kind of door handle or door apparatus. In another advantageous arrangement, depending on the usage frequency of the door handle, different time intervals can be adjusted for the active status of at least one radiation unit and at least one radiation source. For instance, it can be considered for at least one UVC radiation source that how long it should take effect on a surface to be cleaned such as a door handle, as a radiation impact for instance. Advantageously time intervals of a few seconds, more advantageously 0.5-2 seconds per impact and even more advantageously 1 second can be used. This amount of time interval is advantageously enough to substantially sterilize and/or disinfect a door handle at full. Substantially at full in here means that 100 percent disinfection of microorganisms is provided in particular advantage. The prespecifiable activation of at least one radiation source, advantageously individual radiation units, is advantageous because this can provide an effective energy- saving. It's also advantageous for it does not put human health at danger, does not have any negative effects on the structural door materials such as coatings and varnishes and does not do any harm to nearby plants. In another application, it can be considered for the control unit to initiate and activate the disinfection process when a prespecified time interval passes after the door handle is used. For instance, it can be considered for the control unit to initiate the disinfection and/or sterilization process within 10 to 45 seconds and more advantageously 25 to 30 seconds after the door handle is used. It should not be taken as a limitation, for this reason it can be considered that disinfection and/or sterilization process is initiated by the control unit when the door opened by the handle is closed again, drops into the lock slot for instance. And here, other sensing tools may be provided too which detects the opening status of the door and transmits at least one corresponding signal to the control unit to initiate disinfection and/or sterilization process when the door is closed. And in here, it can be considered for the disinfection and/or sterilization process to begin only a few seconds after the door is closed, 10 seconds to 45 seconds for instance. In addition, the device is suitable to kill and/or inactivate microbe and/or microorganism colonization on door handles in periodic intervals. In another advantageous arrangement, at least one reflecting tool can be setup inside at least one door handle to amplify radiation. In the simplest case, this reflecting tool can be in the same geometrical shape with the door handle and is enlarged only in diameter. For instance, if the door handle is in cylindrical design, at least one reflector tool setup inside the door handle is in cylindrical design although its' diameter is enlarged. The embedded reflector tool can be ideally made of a shiny material, aluminum or stainless steel for instance. Ideally it's made of the same material with the door handle or the fitting. An internal reflector medium is advantageous for radiation amplification. This of course should not be taken as a limitation. It can also be considered for at least one embedded reflector tool to have conical geometry. It's proven here that it's particularly advantageous to create the conical geometry with a 0,5-10 °, and more advantageously with a 0,75-5° and even more advantageously with a 1° ± %15 deviation range tilt. Tilt may increase towards the open end of the door handle and/or the door apparatus. Conical geometry is advantageous because it also reflects UVC radiation. This additional reflection enhances the effectivity and intensity of the radiation. Reflection is particularly advantageous in a way for the reflected radiation to stay only on the surface area of the door handle. This of course should not be taken as a limitation, this way any other geometry of at least one of them is also applicable. Reflector tools can be considered. In order to intensify the radiation, the prismatic generation of at least one reflector tool is shown below. In another advantageous arrangement, the device may have at least one another sensing tool. This additional sensing tool can be designed as a sensor sensitive to fluorescence for instance. This additional sensing tool is advantageously located close to the surface to be treated. Other sensing devices may also be advantageously connected to the control unit. For instance, even if the door handle is not used for a longer time, it can be considered that it's enabled to control bacteria and/or virus and/or microorganism colonization. For this purpose, at least one another sensing tool is activated by at least one control unit. Radiation source is activated. This ensures the disinfection is made as required. As it's ensured to save unneeded energy consumption in prespecified time intervals, this provides particularly effective disinfection and/or sterilization. The design variant described in here is advantageous for less frequently visited doors. This provides a huge amount of energysaving. For this purpose, advantageously, a few detection tool is also provided that detects microorganism colonization through fluorescence on a few different surface areas of the door handle. In this case, control unit can process the recorded data and calculate a mean value of these for instance. This of course should not be taken as a limitation if for instance the mean value is above a prespecifiable limit value, for this reason, it can also be considered to save prespecified time intervals with the control unit where the door handle is automatically sterilized and/or disinfected. In addition, each time the door handle is used it's also ensured that the disinfection process is always initiated and made. This for instance, can be made through the signal sensing of at least one motion sensor which senses an approaching person. For instance, it can also be considered to provide at least one another sensing tool that confirms and detects the opening of the door through the door handle. This way, at least one more sensing in addition to this, means that the connected control unit can always sense the door handle is closed and used by a person. When the door handle turns back to its' original unused state afterwards, control unit can initiate the activation of the disinfection and/or sterilization process. For this purpose, a triggering tool can be set forth advantageously in the interior of the door apparatus. Triggering tool can be designed as a key for instance. When pressed for instance, this triggering key is designed and arranged in a way to sense at least one mechanical motion of the door handle and trigger a signal line corresponding the control unit. In another advantageous arrangement, the device can be designed as a booster module. An adapter can be considered advantageously as a booster module, this is particularly advantageous because this adapter can be used universally for any type of door handle and/or door apparatus. Adapter can then simply be connected to the existing door handle, for instance the device designed as an adapter being pushed, attached, stuck, clicked etc. on the existing door handle. This of course should not be taken as a limitation, that's why it can also be considered for the coupling to be made magnetically. This is particularly advantageous because magnetic bind enables the adapter to be easily and quickly detached in particular, depending on the application it can also be considered for the adapter to be connected only to the door handle, this of course should not be taken as a limitation, this way, it can also be considered for the adapter to be designed in multiple parts and the first part being connected to the door handle while the second part being connected to the door. Her both parts are advantageously connected to each other, this way for instance, energy and/or signal transmission can be made. This is also applicable for the device described above which' s designed as door handle-door assembly unit and completely takes the place of the previous door handle and previous door apparatus. Coupling mechanisms for the door assembly is the same with the door handle. The device is also designed in a way to be adapted to any shape of door handle, this way, door handles or vertical/horizontal long handles can also be equipped with the adapter described in here. It can also be considered to use on grips. In addition, it can also be considered for the device to be designed in a way to effectively disinfect and/or sterilize a door knob. For this purpose, at least one radiation source emits the required radiation for surface disinfection and/or later these infection surfaces advantageously directed properly by the reflector setup on the door handle, this way, all the surface of the door knob is safely and securely disinfected. Both the device described as a unit in here and the adapter and/or the booster module are suitable to use the doors without a knob and can be used for this purpose. Arrangement can be made by constituting at least one common contact surface with the door handle for instance. In addition, it can also be considered for the adapter described for the first time in here, to be placed on door equipment and/or door wing as a detachable part. Regardless of the placing of adapter, it's advantageously ensured for a target surface such as a door handle for instance, to be always disinfected and/or sterilized.

In another arrangement of the device, a first part can be arranged on the door apparatus as an adapter for instance. As already specified above, at least one control unit, at least one sensing tool and at least one display device are advantageously integrated to this section. Adapter has at least one second part for surface treatment. Door handle is designed to be coupled. For instance, it can be considered for this second part to be designed in a way to make a click sound for particularly easy and simply placement on an existing door handle meaning a door. For instance, this second part can be in the shape of C. At least one radiation source can then, for instance after the second apt is arranged, be pushed on to the existing door handle at the open end. In this arrangement, it can be considered for first and second parts and at least one radiation source to be connected properly with each other, through suitable interfaces for instance. In this example arrangement, at least one radiation source advantageously has its' own power supply source.

In another advantageous arrangement of invention, the device can have at least one interface. This interface is advantageously designed as a wireless interface. This device described in here can be integrated to an existing WLAN, a house controller or a similar medium through this at least one interface. This is advantageous because it provides permanent tracking and error messages can be read effectively and quickly in particular. In addition, it can also be considered for at least one wireless interface to be designed as NFC, Bluetooth® or a similar medium. This enables the device to be read and controlled by wireless communication units such as smart phones. For instance, irradiation intervals are determined by at least one radiation unit. At the same time charge statuses of batteries and accumulators can be read. This way, warning signals can be sent advantageously to nearby wireless communication units and/or house controller. Communication control is connected to the cap. In another arrangement, when a prespecified time interval passes after the door handle is used, it can be considered for the control unit to initiate and activate disinfection and/or sterilization process. For instance, it can be considered for the control unit to initiate disinfection and/or sterilization process within 10 to 45 seconds, more advantageously within 25 to 30 seconds after the door handle is used.

In another advantageous arrangement of invention, there can be a door handle surface made of transparent or translucent material in itself. Surface pattern can be modified. In addition to a conventional and substantially smooth surface, it can be considered for the door handle surface to be optimized for UV radiation pass with gutters, roughening or coating. Prototype testing is made in reputed bio laboratory. In the version described above, Log 10 levels are designated with sterilization rates from Log 10 level 2 to Log 10 level 5. This shows the effective and quick sterilization of the door handle.

Product subject to invention and its' characteristics with all advantages will be understood more clearly with the figures given below and detailed description written referring these figures and for this reason assessment should be made considering these figures and detailed description.

Description of References:

1. Door Handle

2. Radiation Source

3. Sensor

4. Control Unit

5. Power Source

Detailed Description of Invention:

Basic components comprising the device subject to invention are; a door handle (1), a radiation source (2), a sensor (3), a control unit (4) and a power source (5). The system described in here works as follows: The control unit (4) connected to the door handle

(1) in the system and regulating the sterilization process, activates the radiation source

(2) through a sensor (3) detecting humans approaching the door handle (1) or within a prespecified time. This way, the system regularly disinfects the integrated door handles, railings and similar objects with the power received from the power source (5). In addition, test results made on the invention are given below.

Result

*CFU = Colony forming units

Evaluation of results are as follows: A reduction level of 4 log has been observed for one of the test points (end of the handle). Two test points (3,5 cm and 4,5 cm) have shown a reduction level of 2 log in bacteria concentration. As a result, no disinfection has taken place in these three points. At the 5,5 cm point, bacteria concentration has been reduced by a level of 5 log. For this reason, a disinfection has taken place according to EN 1040:2005. Controls have shown the expected growth.