Retractable Door Handle Sterilization with User-Safe Germicidal Light
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Door handles are contaminated by pathogens due to contact from unspecified individuals, and disinfection methods can inadvertently harm users with emitted light.
Innovation Solution
A door handle with an automatic sterilization function using germicidal light, user authentication, and a mechanism to block light transmission to the user, allowing the handle to protrude only after authentication and retract for disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disinfection light is emitted to disinfect the door handle, then the door handle is sterilized, but the disinfection light may be emitted to the user causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle is divided into two functional states: a protruding state for user interaction and a retracted state for sterilization. The sterilizer is activated only when the handle is in the retracted position, physically separating the sterilization function from user contact zones. This spatial segmentation ensures that germicidal light is emitted only when no user is present to be exposed to it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by retracting the door handle before emitting disinfection light. The control unit detects when the handle is in the retracted position and only then activates the sterilizer. This preliminary retraction action creates a safe temporal window for sterilization without exposing users to harmful light.
2Ease of operation
If the door handle is always accessible, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination by pathogens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle transitions from a static always-accessible design to a dynamic system that can protrude and retract. The handle protrudes during authenticated user interaction and retracts during non-use periods. This dynamic behavior reduces contamination opportunities while maintaining ease of operation when needed, as users can still access the handle smoothly during authorized use.
Solution Approach 2:
The door handle system performs self-service by automatically retracting when not in use and activating its own sterilization function. The control unit monitors handle position and autonomously triggers the sterilizer when the handle is retracted, eliminating the need for manual disinfection intervention and ensuring continuous pathogen control without user effort.
3Ease of operation
If the handle part protrudes outward for user contact, then ease of operation is improved, but exposure to harmful light during sterilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the operational cycle into distinct phases: user interaction phase where the handle protrudes, and sterilization phase where the handle retracts. The guide protrusions and guide slots mechanism ensures complete retraction before sterilization begins, creating physical separation between the user-accessible handle and the sterilizer emission zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide protrusions and guide slots act as intermediaries that control the handle's movement between protruding and retracted positions. This mechanical intermediary system ensures that the handle is fully retracted into the housing before the sterilizer activates, preventing direct line-of-sight exposure between the germicidal light and potential users.
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
Prevents contamination and user injury by ensuring only authorized users contact the handle, effectively sterilizing it while blocking harmful light exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a sterilizer which emits germicidal light to sterilize pathogens of a handle part
Implementation Method 2
since a light guide part provided in the handle part blocks a gap between a second handle frame and the housing, the germicidal light is blocked from being transmitted to the user
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a door handle and, more specifically, to a door handle which may comprise: a housing which is fixed to a door and has an inner space; a drive part which supplies rotational power; a rotating guide which is connected to the drive part to receive rotational power therefrom and rotate within the housing; and a handle part which is disposed within the rotating guide, and protrudes out of the housing by forward rotation of the rotating guide and is retracted into the housing by reverse rotation of the rotating guide.