Door Handle Sanitizing Housing With Automatic Spray Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door handles are a significant source of virus and bacteria transmission due to frequent hand contact, with traditional cleaning solutions being impractical and burdensome alternatives like gloves or paper towels being inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A disinfecting or sterilizing dispenser with a housing, ultrasonic transducer, fans, pump, and microcontroller that sprays disinfecting solution onto the door handle automatically or upon user interaction, using sensors to trigger activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional cleaning solutions are applied to door handles, then the door handles can be cleaned, but they require manual application between each user and are therefore not practical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus and bacteria transmissionVSAvoidmanual cleaning application

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door handle system automatically applies cleaning solution and activates UV-C LEDs without human intervention. The handle detects when it is touched or left untouched for a predetermined time, then autonomously dispenses the cleaning solution and activates the UV-C LEDs to sanitize the surface, eliminating the need for manual cleaning application between users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs cleaning and sanitization actions in advance before the next user touches the handle. By monitoring touch duration and time intervals, the handle proactively applies cleaning solution and activates UV-C LEDs during periods of non-use, ensuring the surface is sanitized before the next interaction rather than requiring reactive manual cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If gloves or paper towels are used to cover the door handle, then the door handle can be protected, but these options are burdensome and not efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus and bacteria transmissionVSAvoidgloves or paper towels

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical barriers like gloves and paper towels with an automated chemical and optical sanitization system. The handle integrates a cleaning solution reservoir with a pump or dispenser mechanism and UV-C LED arrays, automatically applying liquid disinfectant and using ultraviolet light to kill pathogens without requiring physical coverings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the door handle is frequently touched, then the transmission of harmful viruses and bacteria increases, but reducing touch frequency does not eliminate the contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus and bacteria transmissionVSAvoidhygiene maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous hygiene protection by monitoring the handle's usage state and automatically initiating cleaning cycles during any period of non-use. The microcontroller continuously tracks touch events and time intervals, ensuring that every interval between uses becomes an opportunity for sanitization, thereby maintaining uninterrupted hygiene protection regardless of how frequently the handle is touched.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The handle incorporates sensors that detect touch duration and timing, providing feedback to the microcontroller. Based on this feedback, the system intelligently determines when to activate the cleaning solution dispenser and UV-C LEDs. The feedback mechanism allows the handle to adapt its sanitization schedule to actual usage patterns, ensuring reliable hygiene maintenance even with frequent touches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively disinfects or sterilizes door handles between uses, reducing the spread of harmful microorganisms and ensuring hygiene in various environments.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic transducer positioned within the interior compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of fans positioned within the interior compartment, wherein each fan is positioned adjacent to a housing opening; wherein the fans are activated by the microcontroller, moving air past the ultrasonic transducer and out of the outlets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Fan

Data Source

PatentUS12533436B2Disinfecting and/or sterilizing device for door handles

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 KINLAW ROSHELL

AI summary

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a device capable of disinfecting and/or sterilizing a door handle. Specifically, the disclosed device fits around commonly used doorknobs or door handles. The device includes an interior compartment that houses one or more solutions capable of killing or neutralizing microbial organisms present on the door handle and surrounding area. Particularly, the solution is sprayed from the interior compartment through one or more outlets positioned adjacent to the door handle. In this way, the door handle remains disinfected and/or sterilized between uses to prevent the spread of harmful viruses, bacteria, and other microbes