Touch point area disposable contamination barrier dispensing device

Abstract

A dispenser device is generally provided for removable attachment to a flexible enclosure. In one embodiment, the dispenser device comprises a dispenser body which defines a cavity therein and a plurality of barrier sheets within the cavity defined by the dispenser body. The dispenser body is configured to be removably attached over a contact point or surface of the flexible enclosure (e.g., a curtain or the like).

Claims

1. A dispenser device for removable attachment to a flexible enclosure, comprising: a dispenser body that is foldable about a longitudinal axis of the dispenser body; a plurality of barrier sheets removably held by the dispenser body, wherein the plurality of barrier sheets are arranged to form a stack and held by the dispenser body such that removal of a top barrier sheet of the stack exposes an underlying barrier sheet in the stack; and an intermediate device attached to the dispenser body and including two sides and a bridge, wherein each side is positioned on an opposite surface of the dispenser body, wherein an interior surface of each side of the intermediate device includes first attachment means comprising one of an adhesive layer, a hook and loon fastener, a pinching mechanism, a compression mechanism, a friction pad, a magnet, a puncturing mechanism, a screw, a tack, a staple, a screw, a bolt, or a combination thereof for attaching one side of the intermediate device to an opposite side of the intermediate device, and wherein the bridge is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the dispenser body; wherein each side of the intermediate device further includes a second attachment means disposed on an exterior surface of each side of the intermediate device, wherein the exterior surface of each side of the intermediate device is located opposite the interior surface of each side of the intermediate device, wherein the second attachment means comprising one of a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive, a tape, or a combination thereof, wherein the second attachment means is configured to attach to a bottom surface of the dispenser body on the sides of the intermediate device.

2. The dispenser device as in claim 1, wherein the bridge includes a mechanical actuator having a spring hinge suitable for clamping down on the flexible enclosure via the sides of the intermediate device.

3. The dispenser device as in claim 1, wherein the barrier sheets comprise a sheet that is substantially impervious to liquids.

4. The dispenser device as in claim 1, wherein the dispenser body further comprises a back support.

5. The dispenser device as in claim 4, wherein the back support defines at least one fold line.

6. The dispenser device as in claim 5, wherein the back support defines a pair of fold lines, each fold line being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser body.

7. The dispenser device as in claim 1, further comprising a pinch clamp.

8. The dispenser device as in claim 7, wherein the pinch clamp is positioned on an interior surface of the bridge.

9. A dispenser device for removable attachment to a flexible enclosure, comprising: an intermediate device defining two sides, wherein each side is positioned on an opposite surface of the dispenser body, wherein an interior surface of each side of the intermediate device includes first attachment means comprising one of an adhesive layer, a hook and loop fastener, a pinching mechanism, a compression mechanism, a friction pad, a magnet, a puncturing mechanism, a screw, a tack, a stale, a screw, a bolt, or a combination thereof for attaching one side of the intermediate device to an opposite side of the intermediate device; wherein each side of the intermediate device further includes a second attachment means disposed on an exterior surface of each side of the intermediate device, wherein the exterior surface of each side of the intermediate device is located opposite the interior surface of each side of the intermediate device, wherein the second attachment means comprising one of a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive, a tape, or a combination thereof, wherein the second attachment means is configured to attach to a bottom surface of the dispenser body; a dispenser body which defines a cavity therein, the dispenser body being configured to be removably attached to the intermediate device; and a plurality of barrier sheets within the cavity defined by the dispenser body.

10. The dispenser device as in claim 9, wherein the intermediate device comprises a bridge positioned between the two sides.

11. The dispenser device as in claim 10, further comprising: a pinch clamp, the pinch clamp being positioned on an interior surface of the bridge.

12. The dispenser device as in claim 9, wherein the barrier sheets are individually loose within the cavity.

13. The dispenser device as in claim 9, wherein the barrier sheets are configured such that removal of a single barrier sheet does not substantially affect the alignment of any underlying barrier sheets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary contamination barrier dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown in an as-received configuration;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary contamination barrier dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown in an as-opened configuration, showing a plurality of disposable contamination barrier sheets;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary contamination barrier dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown in an as-installed configuration on a flexible enclosure device such as a curtain such as a hospital privacy curtain;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary contamination barrier dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown in an as-used configuration on a hospital privacy curtain;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary contamination barrier dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown in an as-used configuration on a hospital privacy curtain when the dispenser is empty;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary intermediate device used for mounting to a flexible enclosure as well as serving as a platform for a contamination barrier dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary intermediate device used for mounting to a flexible enclosure and with the contamination barrier dispenser installed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

(9) Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

(11) Dispenser closing devices are generally provided for use with opening and closing flexible enclosures, such as privacy curtains or the like, in a manner that substantially reduces or eliminates transmission of contamination via the flexible enclosures. The dispenser closing device effectively serves the purpose of a handle being clamped to the flexible enclosure, and has a plurality of renewable surfaces that are sanitary or disinfecting in nature and that are not adhered to one another. In particular embodiments, the dispenser portion of the dispenser closing device is light weight to minimize the suspended mass on the flexible enclosure, and enables the introduction of a fresh touching or handling contact surface after each closing or opening action of the enclosure device to which the dispenser closing device is attached. The dispenser closing device is generally simple in that it requires few or no mechanical or moving parts to enable dispense of fresh surfaces. The dispenser closing device is attached to the flexible enclosure, in one embodiment, in a manner that does not damage the flexible enclosure. As such, the dispenser closing device is easy to use as well as install using a pinch type or compression or friction or magnetic clamp or other temporary attachment means or the like that does not damage the flexible enclosure. Additionally, the dispenser closing device can easily be removed for maintenance or replacement. The dispenser closing device may be used with various mounting mechanisms so as to enable contamination free closing and opening of numerous flexible enclosures such as curtains and the like. The invented devices may also be designed to include other elements or components that modify and improve the functionality of the dispenser closing device.

(12) As such, the dispenser closing device can provide an easily replaceable, non-contaminated barrier between the user and the opening/closing mechanism of the flexible enclosure (e.g., an edge of the flexible enclosure or the like). The dispenser closing device can be temporarily mounted quickly and easily to a flexible enclosure such as a curtain or the like. The dispenser closing device for the non-contaminated barriers can be mounted either directly over the opening/closing mechanism (e.g., an edge of the flexible enclosure) or serve as the opening/closing mechanism itself. As such, the dispenser closing device can ensure a contamination free barrier at the point of use and is placed directly over the touch point.

(13) The entire dispenser closing device is, in one particular embodiment, very light weight and low in mass so as to minimize or eliminate the pendulum effect for use with a flexible enclosure. The dispenser closing device is simple and designed specifically for use with flexible devices such as a curtain or the like and does not require actuation or alignment of the barrier as a part of use. The device may include one or more indicators either within the dispenser or on each protective barrier or both, in order to indicate that the dispenser is empty or to communicate other information, such as it is time to change the privacy curtain, or information or advertising or the like.

(14) In one embodiment, the dispenser closing device disclosed herein includes a disposable dispenser mounted directly over a touch point area, so as to serve as a dispenser of disposable contamination barriers that are held by the dispenser so as to ensure that the user does not have direct contact with the opening/closing device and also to make it obvious when the disposable barriers have all been used and that the dispenser either needs to be replaced or refilled. The dispenser is designed so as to replace the touch point of the opening/closing means of the enclosure device with a disposable barrier that is renewable easily by the user and at the discretion of the user. Said dispenser may either be directly attached to a flexible enclosure such as a privacy curtain or the like, or it may be attached to a handle device that is specifically designed to either permanently or removably attach to said flexible enclosure device using a pinch clamp or a compression clamp or a friction clamp or a magnetic clamp or a means of temporary attachment or the like or a combination of clamps.

(15) Referring to FIG. 1 and to FIG. 2, the dispenser device 1 is comprised of a dispenser body 2 that is shaped so as to hold a plurality of disposable contamination barrier sheets 9 during use. The dispenser 2 includes a removable portion 3 attached to boarders 10 along perforations 4. When it is time to install the device 1 onto a flexible enclosure, an installer removes the removable portion 3 of the dispenser 2 along perforations 4 (or the like) to leave borders 10 and to expose the contamination barrier sheets 9 within the dispenser 2. The installer then manipulates the dispenser 2 such that the dispenser device 1 is effectively folded around an edge 30 of the flexible enclosure 11, such as a privacy curtain or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(16) For example, the dispenser body 2 can be folded generally about its longitudinal axis 5, or at multiple fold lines 13 that are generally parallel and in close proximity to its longitudinal axis 5. FIG. 3 shows the dispenser body 2 defining a pair of fold lines 13a, 13b that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 5 of the device 1 and extend the entire longitudinal length of the dispenser body 2.

(17) In one embodiment, the dispenser device 1 is mounted to the enclosure device as shown in FIG. 3 using means for attaching (i.e., attachment means) on each side 6, 7 of the flexible enclosure 11 so as to securely mount the dispenser device 1 in a removable manner that covers the touch point area of the flexible enclosure 11. For example, pads 14a and 14b, as best shown in FIG. 6, can include an adhesive layer (e.g., a pressure sensitive adhesive) or at least one of a hook-and-loop attachment surface that corresponds with an opposite hook-and-loop attachment surface on the flexible enclosure 11 or may physically attach to the flexible enclosure 11 by a pinching action or by compression or by friction or by magnetic attachment of pads 14a and 14b or the like. Other attachment means can include, but are not limited to, compression, pinching, grabbing, clamping, friction, magnets, puncturing mechanisms, sandpaper, tacks, staples, screws, bolts, etc. The mounting means may be singular or multiple and may reside anywhere on the sides of the device that contact the flexible enclosure device.

(18) FIG. 4 illustrates the dispenser device 1 attached to a hospital privacy curtain 11 in its intended orientation. The dispenser device 1 is attached over both sides of the contact point area of the curtain being folded over axis 5 and secured to the curtain 11 by mounting means 14a and 14b. The portion 10 of the container 2 defines the boarder that exposes the disposable barrier sheets 9 therein. A compressing means may be employed within the dispenser in order to maintain pressure between the stack of the remaining portion of the contamination barrier sheets within the dispenser and the container portion of the dispenser as the barrier sheets are dispensed. Upon opening or closing the enclosure, the user grasps the outer most disposable barrier sheet in the stack of barrier sheets 9 and opens or closes the curtain. As the user completes the opening or closing action, he or she simply and easily removes and disposes of the outer most disposable barrier at his or her discretion. In that manner a non-contaminated touch point is ensured.

(19) I. Sheets

(20) In one particular embodiment, the dispenser portion of the device contains a plurality of clean or sanitized sheets, which may be treated with anti-microbial or other sanitizing or disinfecting treatments or light sensitive treatments or that are printed or the like. In one embodiment, the sanitized sheets are not adhered to each other within the stack. The sheets are preferably impervious to liquid, such as being a wax paper or the like. The sheets preferably slide easily upon one another. The sheets may be folded or have tabs so as to facilitate removal of said sheet after use. The user simply pulls the protective barrier out of the dispenser as part of the grasping/opening/closing action, exposing a fresh, non-contaminated barrier for the next grasping/opening/closing action. This action is very simple, requiring no training in order to ensure that it is used properly.

(21) The disposable barrier sheets 9 may be treated with an indicator to show points of direct contact or to show contamination or to show other exposure. The disposable barrier sheets 9 may also be treated with an air freshener chemistry or the like. The disposable barrier sheets 9 may be treated with a disinfectant (either dry, wet or lotion) to assist in the passivation or destruction of contamination or the like. The disposable sheets 9 may be printed upon in order to further facilitate understanding of use (e.g., grab here) or numbered to indicate how many sheets remain in the dispenser device 1, or printed with indicator ink so as to show atmospheric or light exposure or to indicate contamination or to indicate contamination on the hands or gloves of the user, or to indicate contact or to advertise or to educate the user. The printed surface may also be comprised of a glow-in-the-dark material so as to facilitate opening/closing of the enclosure in the dark so as to not disturb a sleeping patient or the like. The dispenser device 1 may also include a waste receptacle for the deposit of the used disposable barrier sheets or other amendments.

(22) In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a plurality of contamination-free sheets is aligned, and stacked one over the other in a non-adhered fashion to create stack of disposable contamination-free sheets that is attached to a removable base that folds along an axis using a mechanical actuator means such as a spring hinge or the like and is securely, but temporarily attached to more than one side of the enclosure device, such as a privacy curtain or the like, directly over the contact point area. The user quickly and easily removes the existing contamination barrier sheet by means of pulling a tab that removes the entire contamination barrier to expose a new contamination barrier on each side of the enclosure device subsequent to opening/closing the enclosure device. The dispenser is mounted to the enclosure device over the touch point area and serves as the touch point. The dispenser is attached to the enclosure device in such a manner as to be secure, yet easily removable such as with hooks or clamping or the like.

(23) II. Dispenser

(24) The dispenser portion 2 of the device 1 may not contain moving parts or may have a minimum number of moving parts and is very simple. One embodiment of the invented device includes a disposable dispensing unit, made from cardboard or the like, that is opened along perforations to expose a plurality of contamination barrier sheets that are not adhered to each other, and is then folded along an axis (e.g., along at least one fold line), and is attached to a flexible enclosure device, such as a curtain or the like using a temporary attachment means that holds the dispenser unit securely in place and also allows for easy removal of the dispenser device, such as hook-type (e.g., hook and loop or snake tooth) attachment means, or a pinch clamp or compression or friction or magnetic or adhesive attachment means or the like. The assistance of a light weight mechanical actuation device can be utilized in the device 1, if desired.

(25) The sheets and dispenser become the touch point of the handle for opening and closing the curtain type enclosure. The user simply and easily removes each protective barrier as a part of the grasping/opening/closing process to reveal a new, contamination-free protective barrier for the next use.

(26) In particular embodiments it is important to minimize the weight or mass of the device 1 so as to reduce or eliminate the pendulum effect due to mounting on a flexible enclosure. As such, the device 1 enables the reduction or elimination of transference related contamination from select touch points, including but not limited to privacy curtain touch points, in a manner that is efficient, effective and economical, without excessive weight, so as to avoid the pendulum effect. That is, the flexible enclosure is typically suspended from the ceiling or the like from one dimension, and thus it is important that any handle, pull or the like that is attached to said flexible enclosure, be low in mass or weight so as to enable movement without a pendulum effect. Additionally, it is important that said handle or pull is easily attached and removed from said flexible enclosure device so as to enable removal of said flexible enclosure device for laundering or replacement or the like. The attachment means for said handle, pull, or the like to said flexible enclosure device should also provide for fast and easy attach without damaging said flexible enclosure device. In order to minimize pendulum effect, the entire device is designed to be light in weight and low in mass. The entire device (sans the flexible enclosure 11) should weigh less than 5 pounds, ideally less than 3 pounds and more ideally less than 1 pound.

(27) In one particular embodiment, the device 1 includes a mechanical actuator 8 is comprised of one or more mechanisms, such as a spring hinge mechanism, that is latched open until installation, when the latch is removed to enable closure of the spring hinge mechanism 8 around the contact point area of the enclosure device. The mechanism 8 is preferably designed so as to impart compression of the dispenser device 1 onto more than one side of the flexible enclosure device over the contact point area so as to facilitate attachment of the dispenser device 1 to the flexible enclosure device through attachment means 6 and 7. The mechanism 8 may also include a latching mechanism to hold the dispenser device 1 in the folded position.

(28) Attachment means 13 are preferably designed so as to provide secure attachment of the dispenser device 1 to the flexible enclosure 11 as well as to impart easy removal of the dispenser device 1 from the flexible enclosure 11 without significant damage to said enclosure. Such attachment means include, but are not limited to hooks, hook and loop fabrics, temporary adhesives, snaps, friction fittings (e.g., using rubber or sandpaper or the like), compression clamps, pinch clamps, magnetic clamps, puncture clamps or the like.

(29) A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodiment, an intermediate device 12 is used to attach directly to the flexible enclosure 11 in a manner that is either removable or permanent, via actuation means 62, which may either work freely via a spring hinge mechanism or the like, and attachment means 14a and 14b. The intermediate device 12 has two sides 15 and 16 that may be hingedly attached to or are otherwise interconnected via bridge 17 in a manner that allows said sides 15 and 16 to rotate on axes 18 and 19 so that sides 15 and 16 may be substantially parallel. Sides 15 and 16 may be attached to either the attachment means 14a and 14b or actuation means 62 or both in a manner that mechanically actuates motion of sides 15 and 16 so as to facilitate attachment to the flexible enclosure 11 without hindering attachment to said flexible enclosure 11. Intermediate device 12 has second attachment means 20 on each of side 15 and 16 to enable attachment of the dispenser device 1. The dispenser is similar to the dispenser device 1 of FIG. 1, with the exceptions that attachment means 13a and 13b are modified for attachment to the intermediate device 12 at 20 using a removable fastener (e.g., a hook and loop fastener or removable adhesive tape or the like) and that mechanical actuator 8 is either removed, or modified to enable conformance and attachment of the dispenser device 1 to the intermediate device 12 by enabling rotation or motion around axes 18 and 19.

(30) During use, the intermediate device 12 is attached to the flexible enclosure 11 using attachment means 14a and 14b, which is opened either manually or using the actuation means 62, then aligned on the flexible enclosure 11, then closed either manually or using actuation means 62. Dispenser device 1, including the dispenser body 2, which extends and is foldable along a longitudinal axis 5, is then mounted to intermediate device 12 by attaching mounting means 6 and 7 on the dispenser device 1 via secondary attachment means 20 on the intermediate device 12 as illustrated in FIG. 7 to enable opening and closing of the flexible enclosure 11 by grasping clean sheets 9 which are held within dispenser device 1 which is attached to intermediate 12 which is attached to flexible enclosure 11 in a manner that allows opening and closing of said enclosure that is analogous to that shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 for the first embodiment. The attachment means may be multiple in number and may use multiple attachment mechanisms and may be placed anywhere on the sides of 15 and 16 that face each other on either side of the flexible enclosure 11.

(31) A compressing means may be employed within the dispenser in order to maintain pressure between the stack of the remaining portion of the contamination barrier sheets 9 within the dispenser and the container portion of the dispenser as the barrier sheets are dispensed. Upon opening or closing the flexible enclosure 11, the user grasps the outer most disposable barrier sheet in the stack of barrier sheets 9 and opens or closes the flexible enclosure 11. As the user completes the opening or closing action, he or she simply and easily removes and disposes of the outer most disposable barrier at his or her discretion. In that manner a non-contaminated touch point is ensured. The disposable barrier sheets 9 may be treated with an indicator to show points of direct contact or to show contamination or to show other exposure. The disposable barrier sheets 9 may also be treated with an air freshener chemistry or material or the like. The disposable barrier sheets 9 may be treated with a disinfectant (either dry, wet or lotion or the like) to assist in the passivation or destruction of contamination or the like. The disposable sheets 9 may be printed upon in order to further facilitate understanding of use (e.g., grab here) or numbered to indicate how many sheets remain in the dispenser device 1, or printed with indicator ink so as to show exposure or contamination or to indicate contamination on the hands or gloves of the user, or to indicate contact or to advertise or to educate the user. The surface or the printed surface may also be comprised of a glow-in-the-dark material or the like so as to facilitate opening/closing of the enclosure in the dark so as to not disturb a sleeping patient or the like. The dispenser device 1 may also include a waste receptacle for the deposit of the used disposable barrier sheets.

(32) Attachment of dispenser device 1 to the intermediate device 12 is enabled via secondary attachment means 20 (e.g., hook and loop or removable adhesive or removable tape or the like). Attachment of the intermediate device 12 to flexible enclosure 11 is enabled via actuation means 62 or the like and is located within the interior volume defined by the interior surfaces 15, 16 and 17, that covers the contact surface of the flexible enclosure 11 and may be actuated via actuation means 62 or other actuation means to enable simple and ideally one hand operation. In certain embodiments, the actuation means 62 can be a spring hinge or the like. Multiple clamps may be used in order to ensure more secure mounting of intermediate device 12 to the flexible enclosure 11.

(33) In order to minimize pendulum effect, the entire device is designed to be light in weight and low in mass. The entire device (sans the flexible enclosure 11) should weigh less than 5 pounds, ideally less than 3 pounds and more ideally less than 1 pound.

(34) This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.