Public Hand Protection System (PHPS)

Abstract

A system for mitigating the transmission of infectious threats by providing an easy access to a cloth or mitt attached to a retractable cord to allow the user to grab a doorknob, subway passenger strap or pole without having skin contact with public touched surfaces. A protection cloth and retraction cord are attached to a personal attachment device, which can be worn on a belt, also has a container with sanitation solution that is applied to the protection cloth after use and can also be applied to a person's hands. A second cloth is also used to wipe down surfaces such as seats, knobs, switches, etc. providing a reusable sanitation cloth and refillable sanitation container. The invention will reduce the contact transmission of infectious disease threats in a more convenient method than current traditional methods of disposable cloths or liquids.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a user and other non-users by mitigating the transmission of infectious threats on contact surfaces comprising the steps of: attaching at least one protection cloth glove to an individual wherein the said protective cloth glove includes a retractable cord; providing at least one container of sanitizing solution carried on or attached to said user; applying said sanitizing solution to said protection cloth glove in to kill infectious disease threats on said protection cloth glove; wherein said user can pull said protection cloth glove on said retractable cord and place said cloth glove on a surface; wherein the user's hand is protected by the said protection cloth glove from infectious diseases threats and on any surface that said user touches with said protection cloth glove; and providing protection to said other non-users by sanitizing surfaces that said user touched.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the container of sanitizing solution is attached to the user with a retractable cord.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment to a user is through a belt loop.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment to a user is a belt clip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the protection cloth glove is removable for replacement or cleaning.

6. The method of claim 1, including applying sanitizing solution directly to user's hands after using the protection cloth glove.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 depicts the primary system mounted on a belt.

[0010] FIG. 2 depicts the addition of a detachable cloth to the base system.

[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the system showing the belt mount.

[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a side view with a hook shaped belt mount.

[0013] FIG. 5 depicts the primary system mounted on a lanyard.

[0014] FIG. 6 depicts an individual approaching a door.

[0015] FIG. 7 an individual using the PHPS to open the door.

REFERENCE NUMERALS FOUND IN THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Element 1 is the mounting base for the other elements

[0017] Element 2 is a waist belt

[0018] Element 3 is a retractable cord housing, mechanism, and attachment device to cloth

[0019] Element 4 is the retractable cord

[0020] Element 5 is protective cloth

[0021] Element 6 is a hand opening on the protective cloth forming a mitt-like cloth

[0022] Element 7 is a bottle that can hold sanitizing solution

[0023] Element 8 is the cap or dispensing pump for the sanitizing solution in Element 7

[0024] Element 9 is hook-and-loop attachment to hold Element 7 to Element 1

[0025] Element 10 is a detachable protective cloth

[0026] Element 11 is hook-and-loop attaching Element 10 to Element 1

[0027] Element 12 is a belt attachment loop

[0028] Element 13 is a belt attachment clip

[0029] Element 14 is a neck attachment cord

[0030] Element 15 is a door

[0031] Element 16 is an individual or user

[0032] Element 17 is a door handle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The PHPS is a simple-to-use invention that mounts on a user's belt. The system includes a base plate 1, a retractable cord system 3 mounted on the base plate, the cord 4 attached to a protective cloth 5. The protective cloth 5 has a flap 6 forming a mitt-like structure. The flap 6 can be on both sides of the protective cloth 5 to make it easier for the user to find the pocket. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) fob, device, or card can also be attached to the cord 4 or cloth 5 to serve as a convenience to the user when approaching an access reader prior to opening a door. Also attached to the mounting base 1 is a bottle 7 that holds a sanitizing solution and dispenses sanitizing solution through the cap 8. The bottle 7 is attached to the mounting base 1 through the use of an attachment system, such as hook-and-loop 9.

[0034] In operation, as a user 16 approaches a door handle 17 (FIGS. 6 and 7), the user 16 simply slides his hand down to the protective cloth 5 and into the opening or fold 6. The user 16 then brings his hand up extending the retractable cord 4 until the user touches the door handle 17. The user's hand is protected by the protective cloth making contact with the door handle, thus allowing the user 16 to open the door 17 without any contact between the user 16's hand contacting the doorknob 17. The user 16 then releases the protective cloth 5. At this time, the retraction device 3 retracts the protective cloth 5 to the mounting base 1 on the user's belt 2. The user can also remove the bottle 7 and spray the cloth 5 with sanitizing solution and/or spray the door handle with the solution. A similar approach can be used for elevator buttons or standing passenger poles on a subway or bus, etc.

[0035] Exemplary Embodiment 2 has the addition of a removable cloth 10 that is attached to the mounting base 1 with an attachment mechanism such as hook-and-loop 9. This protective cloth 10 may also or alternatively have an attachment mechanism, such as hook-and-loop 11. This protective cloth 10 is used to protect the user's hand at a greater distance than the retractable cord 4. An example would be on a metro car or bus where a standing passenger holds onto a strap. The protective cloth would be on the strap protecting the user's hand. Thus, in a situation where the extendable cord 4 is unable to extend to a needed distance, the detachable cloth 10 can be used instead of the mitt attached to the extendable cord.

[0036] Another Exemplary Embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this exemplary embodiment, a belt attachment loop is attaching the mounting base 1 to a user's belt 2. FIG. 3 shows a belt mounting loop 12 that can easily mount mounting base 1 to a user's belt 2. Alternatively, the PHPS can also contain a belt 2 as part of the mounting base 1 as a single unit.

[0037] Exemplary Embodiment 4 represents another mounting configuration, in which a belt clip 13 is used to mount the mounting base 1 of the PHPS on a belt 2.

[0038] FIG. 5 represents another Exemplary Embodiment. This embodiment illustrates a different mounting configuration. Specifically, this configuration uses a lanyard 14 as an approach for someone that does not have a belt 2 or does not wish to wear the system around their waist. This exemplary embodiment can be used to attach to a purse, briefcase, backpack or worn around the user's neck or wrist.

[0039] FIG. 6 represents an embodiment of the invention worn by a user 16 who is standing in front of a door 15. In FIG. 7, the user 16 is shown with his hand in the mitt-like cloth with the retractable cord 4 extended. As illustrated, the user 16 is gripping the door handle 17, without contact of his hand with the door handle 17. The PHPS of the current invention will greatly assist the user in keeping their hands clean to avoid the normal transmission a person is subject to when the hand is contaminated, and they subsequently touch their face, eyes or food, etc. This approach is easy, quick to use, and the combination of a quickly donning mitt and removing the mitt, along with sanitizing solution and with simple attachments that encourage unencumbered use by an individual.

[0040] Although different exemplary embodiments are disclosed, the invention is not limited thereto as other exemplary embodiments would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.