Disposable Handle Grip with UV Sanitizing Stand

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional health and safety products, such as gloves and disinfectants, are often ineffective in preventing the transmission of pathogens due to user impatience, improper use, and hidden shortcomings like contamination during removal or lack of continuous protection.

Innovation Solution

A protective interface device in the form of a handle grip with a U-shaped design that can be applied in multiple positions to minimize direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces, featuring a rigid or flexible outer surface and inner surface to create a barrier between the user's hand and the object, along with a carrying case and UV-sanitizing stand for decontamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional protective measures like gloves and disinfectants are used, then pathogen transmission is addressed, but user impatience and improper use render them ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of protective measuresVSAvoiduser compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle grip is designed as a disposable protective interface that is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and reapplication. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable protection without requiring user patience or proper procedure adherence, as the device is thrown away after one use rather than cleaned and reused.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle grip acts as an intermediary barrier between the user's hand and the potentially contaminated surface. This protective interface device provides continuous protection during the interaction, resolving the contradiction by maintaining reliable protection without requiring the user to wait for disinfectants to dry or properly remove gloves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If disinfectant is applied to contaminated surfaces, then pathogen elimination is attempted, but improper wiping and immediate contact renders it ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen eliminationVSAvoidtime required for disinfectant to work

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The handle grip eliminates the time loss issue by being a single-use disposable device. Instead of requiring the user to wait for disinfectant to dry (15 minutes), the user simply applies the handle grip, uses it for the interaction, and discards it afterward. The protective function is immediate and does not require waiting time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle grip is pre-applied to the handle before the user's hand contacts it, creating immediate protection. This preliminary protective action eliminates the need for the user to wait for disinfectant to take effect, as the barrier is already in place when the user begins interacting with the object.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If disposable gloves are used, then hand protection is provided, but removal and disposal cause contamination spray

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand protectionVSAvoidcontamination spray during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle grip is designed to be discarded rather than removed, eliminating the contamination spray problem. Instead of the user having to carefully remove gloves and risk spraying contamination, the handle grip is simply thrown away after use, ensuring no harmful factors are generated during the end-of-use phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function is extracted from the user's hand and transferred to the handle grip itself. The handle grip bears the contamination on its outer surface, which is then discarded with the contamination, rather than the user's hand having to remove the protective barrier and risk exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If handle grip is made rigid for structural stability, then barrier integrity is improved, but adaptability to different handle shapes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarrier integrityVSAvoidcompatibility with different handles

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The handle grip has a rigid outer surface to maintain barrier integrity and prevent penetration, while the inner surface is designed with a complementary shape that adapts to different handle geometries. This local differentiation of properties allows the grip to be both structurally stable and adaptable to various handle types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The handle grip incorporates a universal complementary shape design that allows it to fit multiple types of handles (shopping carts, luggage, doors, etc.). This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by maintaining barrier integrity through rigidity while achieving adaptability through a standardized interface geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

5Ease of operation

If handle grip is made flexible for comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but barrier effectiveness against pathogens is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand comfortVSAvoidpathogen transmission risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle grip employs a rigid outer surface to ensure barrier effectiveness against pathogens, while the inner surface is shaped to comfortably fit the user's hand. This local differentiation allows the grip to provide both protection and comfort, resolving the contradiction between flexibility for comfort and rigidity for barrier effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The handle grip effectively reduces the risk of contact with pathogens by providing a consistent barrier and allowing for easy sanitization, enhancing user safety and hygiene without the need for continuous reapplication of disinfectants.

Implementation Method 1

a UV light source configured to emit ultraviolet radiation toward the handle grip when the handle grip is placed in the stand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11345013B2Protective interface device with complementary case, stand and satchel

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 CURRIER III GEORGE TYLER

AI summary

The invention relates to a sanitary interface device that provides safety and mitigates risk associated with the spread of disease and illness (e.g., viruses) resulting from human contact with potentially contaminated objects such as a handle. The interface device includes a rigid, U-shaped body having a curved portion and a pair of legs projecting therefrom. The curved portion interfaces with the potentially contaminated handle, while the pair of legs shield a user's hands from the handle. The interface device can be portable and reusable, while being adapted for use as part of a kit which could also include accessories, such as a case, stand and/or satchel.