TECHNICAL FIELD The invention generally pertains to devices that prevent the spreading of an influenza outbreak and more particularly a hand sanitizing device that is conveniently located inside a pocket that is attached to an article of clothing.

BACKGROUND ART

One of the most prominent features of living in today's world is the level of personal hygiene that is available. In the majority of developed nations there is a large number of and variety of personal hygiene products that are available. Additionally, many governments go to great lengths to ensure that people are living in safe, clean environments. Individuals have also taken a greater responsibility for their own hygiene, and as a result, the occurrence of large-scale disease outbreaks is significantly smaller.

Most people, at least one time during their life, will catch either the common cold or influenza, which is also known as the flu. These two sicknesses are cause by the spreading of a germ from person to person. Although the symptoms of these two sicknesses are uncomfortable, they are usually not deadly for most people. If a person does catch a cold or the flu they typically take over-the-counter medicine and rest for a few days.

Unfortunately, there does exist, or can exist, germ-based diseases that are much more virulent and resistant to prevention and treatment. In the past, these diseases were often referred to as plagues and as a result of poor hygiene and limited medical assistance, during some plagues millions of people died.

In today's world a local outbreak of a disease or sickness is called an epidemic. A larger outbreak, such as one that could travel from one country to another and potentially affect millions of people is called a pandemic. During the start of the 21st Century we have had two potential pandemics: the Avian or Bird flu and the HlNl, or Swine flu. For both of these, experts have warned that a large scale spreading that could affect a large number of people around the world is possible.

As a result people have been told to increase their personal hygiene. This can range from simple steps such as promoting frequent hand washing, to wearing surgical- type masks on the face to inhibit the spreading of germs. Although these measures may seem obvious, they are often very effective, especially the frequent hand washing. This is because once an infected person touches an object, the germs can remain actively dangerous on the object for an extended period. Frequent hand washing/sanitizing protects people who contact an infected object. Unfortunately, for many people it is not possible to perform frequent hand washing. Therefore it would be extremely beneficial to provide a means by which a person could wash or sanitize their hands at any location, at any time.

The instant invention solves this problem by providing individuals with a hand sanitizing device that is easily carried and accessed at any time, and once used can be quickly replaced.

A search of the prior art did not disclose literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related.

PATENT NO. INVENTOR ISSUED

7,285,114 Harper 23 October 2007

7,004,354 Harper 28 February 2006

6, 189, 153 Diamond 20 February 2001

The 7,285,114 patent discloses a device for promoting the use of hand sterilizing fluids and gels that are applied to reduce the hand-borne transmission of pathogens. Clean, disinfected hands are widely recognized as a principle means for controlling the spread of infections and disease to both self and others. The prompt and repeated application of materials such as soap and water is necessary for maintaining a sanitary hand condition. The device is a wrist-mounted dispenser of the hand sterilizing fluids:

The 7,004,354 patent discloses an apparatus for promoting and attaining hand hygiene based on the employment of a package which provides access to and use of hand sanitizing fluids. A packet is disclosed that is designed to be carried in a pocket by the user. Through direct finger manipulation a measured dose of hand sanitizing fluid is drawn on to the hand. The packet is self-sealing and preserves any remaining fluid for future uses and permits the packet to be returned to a pocket without any closure manipulation.

The 6,189,153 patent discloses a pocket liner comprising a pouch dimensioned to fit within a pocket constituting an integral part of an article. The pouch is formed of a material which is flexible and resistant to abrasion and perforation and is provided with an attachment means. The pocket liner is detachable and affords protection to a pocket from heavy usage and sharp edged objects.

For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the search.

PATENT NO. INVENTOR ISSUED

6,742,521 McCleskey et al 1 June 2004

6,283,334 Mahaffey et al 4 September 2001

6,234,357 Lewis 22 May 2001

6,228,375 Kocher 8 May 2001

5,280,042 Lopes 18 January 1994

4,956,170 Lee 11 September 1990

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The swine flu (H1N1) outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today various health organizations report additional cases of confirmed swine W

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flu and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients. Internationally, the situation is also serious with various countries reporting confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the intensifying outbreak, the World Health Organization raised a worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause "community-level" outbreaks.

The hand-sanitizing device (HSD) is designed to prevent or at least minimize the spreading of a contagious influenza such as the spread of swine flu, also referred to as the H1N1 influenza.

The HSD is designed to function in combination with a pocket having a front section that has an upper pocket entry edge and a rear section that can be comprised of a separate section or be an integral section of an article of clothing. In its basic design configuration the HSD is comprised of:

a) a hand sanitizing solution,

b) a hermetically sealed enclosure,

c) a resilient structure saturated with the hand sanitizing solution and that is placed into the hermetic enclosure, and

d) a flexible bag having an inner surface, an outer surface, a lower end, an upper opening having a sealable means and that is dimensioned to enclose the hermetic enclosure, wherein the flexible bag is dimensioned to be inserted into the pocket attached to the article of clothing. To utilize the HSD a hand is inserted into the flexible bag, the resilient structure is removed from the hermetic enclosure, and the resilient structure is squeezed which causes the hand sanitizing solution to spread over the hand that is within the flexible bag.

In view of the above disclosure the primary object of the invention is to provide an HSD that is accessible and that aids in preventing or at least minimizes the spread of influenza type outbreaks. In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to produce an HSD that:

• is easy and comfortable method for cleansing the hands which are a principle cause for spreading an influenza,

• can be adapted with square pockets or angled slack pockets,

• provides significant hygienic protection when the HSD is used in combination with a face mask,

• can be provided as a kit that includes the HSD as well as a face mask and a pocket liner,

• can be designed to function with various liquids and powdered sanitizing solutions,

• can be easily and quickly distributed in the event of a pandemic situation, and

• is cost effective from both a manufacturer's and consumer's point of view. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a hand sanitizing device (HSD) showing a resilient structure inserted into a flexible bag prior to the bag being inserted into a pocket attached to an article of clothing.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the HSD shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of a pocket attached to an article of clothing and shown prior to receiving a HSD.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of an HSD that has attached to the inner surface of the flexible bag a pocket attachment member.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the HSD shown in FIGURE 4. FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the HSD showing a hook that is located on the pocket attachment member and placed over an upper pocket entry edge of the pocket.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of an HSD showing the pocket attachment member that is attached to the pocket and further having a rear support member with its inner surface attached to the inner surface of the flexible bag.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the HSD shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of an angled pocket into which is attached an HSD that when attached, the pocket attachment member is located in a vertical position.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of an angled pocket that includes a set of pocket liners.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of a hand-sanitizing device (HSD 10). The HSD 10, as shown in FIGURES 1-10, is comprised of the following major elements: a resilient structure 12, a hand sanitizing solution 14, a hermetically sealed enclosure 16, a flexible bag 20, a pocket attachment member 34, a rear support member 56, indicia 70 and a pocket liner 72. The HSD 10 functions in combination with the following prior art elements: a pocket 90 having a front section 92, an upper pocket entry edge 94, a separate or integral rear section 96 and an article of clothing 98.

The basic design of the HSD 10, as shown in FIGURES 1-3, utilizes the hand sanitizing solution 14, the resilient structure 12, the flexible bag 20 and a sealable means 30. In the basic design the flexible bag 20 is inserted into the upper pocket entry edge 94 and is loosely held within the pocket 90.

The basic design of the HSD 10 is initially refined by adding, as shown in FIGURES 4-6, a pocket attachment member 34 that allows the HSD 10 to be inserted over the pocket entry edge 94 and includes the indicia 70 that is placed on the pocket attachment member 34.

The preferred design of the HSD 10, as shown in FIGURES 7-8, further refines the HSD 10 by adding the rear support member 56 and utilizing the elements as listed in the basic and the initially refined HSD 10.

The hand sanitizing solution 14 provides the means by which a person's hand is sanitized to prevent any hand contamination to spread to another person during a touching of hands such as a handshake. The hand sanitizing solution 14 can be selected from a number of sanitizing products such as, triclosan, ethyl alcohol, a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide, various antibiotic liquids and colloidal silver.

The resilient structure 12, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8, is made of a liquid absorbing material that is selected from the group consisting of natural sponge, synthetic sponge, a plurality of stacked cotton layers or the like, and a synthetic fiber such as carboxymethylcellulose, polyester, polyacrylate rayon and viscose rayon. The resilient structure 12 is saturated with the hand sanitizing solution 14. After saturation the resilient structure 12 is placed into the hermetically sealed enclosure 16 which is made of a material that can be easily opened when the HSD 10 is ready to be used. In lieu of the resilient structure 12, the hand sanitizing solution 14 can be stored in a frangible capsule 18, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The saturated resilient structure 12 or the frangible capsule 18 is placed into a flexible bag 20, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8. The flexible bag 20 is made of material that is selected from the group consisting of cellophane, mylar, cellulose acetate and polyester. The flexible bag 20 has an inner surface 22, an outer surface 24, a lower end 26 and an upper opening 28 having a sealable means 30. The sealable means 30 is selected from the group consisting of a zip-lock™ closure, a male-female contact strip and a set of hook and loop fasteners. The flexible bag 20 is dimensioned to be easily inserted into the pocket 90 that is comprised of the rear section 96 which can consist of a separate piece of material or be a part of the article of clothing 98.

To utilize the HSD 10, a hand is inserted into the pocket 90 and in the flexible bag 20, the resilient structure 12 is removed from the hermetically sealed enclosure 16 and the resilient structure 12 or, the frangible capsule 18 is squeezed to release the hand sanitizing solution 14 to spread over the hand that is inside the flexible bag 20.

The pocket attachment member 34, as shown in FIGURES 4-6, has a lower end 42 that extends below the lower end 26 of the flexible bag 20 and an inner surface 46. The inner surface 46 is attached to the outer surface 24 of the flexible bag 20 by an attachment means 50 that preferably consists of double-sided adhesive tape, and an upper end 36 that terminates with an inverted U-shaped hook 38. The hook 38 has a front surface 40 that extends above the upper opening 28 on the flexible bag 20. The pocket attachment member 34 is dimensioned to frictionally fit into and across the upper pocket entry edge 94 of the pocket 90. The pocket 90 described above is horizontally positioned on the article of clothing 98. In FIGURE 9 is shown a design wherein the pocket entry edge 94 of the pocket 90 is oriented at an angle on the article of clothing 98. Thus, when the pocket attachment member 34 is inserted over the angled pocket entry edge 94, the front surface 40 of the inverted U-shaped hook 38 is located in a substantial vertically oriented position.

The next element that comprises the structural elements of the HSD 10 is the rear support member 56. The member 56 has an upper end 58 that extends above the upper end 36 of the pocket attachment member 34, a lower end 60 that is in substantial alignment with the lower end 42 of the pocket attachment member 34, an outer surface 62 that interfaces with the rear section 96 of the pocket 90 and an inner surface 64 that interfaces with the inner surface of the flexible bag 20.

The final element that comprises the HSD 10 is the optional pocket liner 72 that is comprised, as shown in FIGURE 10, of a front section 74 and a rear section 76. The front section 74 which can be removable or stitched 78, is folded over and is placed substantially across the pocket's upper pocket entry edge 94. Likewise, the rear section 76, which can also be removable or stitched 78, is dimensioned to partially cover the pocket's rear section 96. The pocket liner 72 aids in inserting and removing the HSD 10 from the pocket 90 and adds to the aesthetics of the article of clothing 98. To add to the utility of the HSD 10 personal or commercial indicia 70 can be applied to the front surface 40 of the hook 38 located on the pocket attachment member 34 and/or to the viewable inner surface 64 of the rear support member 56. Additionally, the HSD 10 can be packaged in a kit (not shown) that includes at least one hand sanitizing device 10, a face mask (not shown) and a removable pocket liner 72.

While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.