Door Handle Sterilizer

1 . A method for sterilizing a door handle comprising:

positioning a shield and a door handle into a first relative position, whereby the shield protects a user from a germicide process;

activating the germicide process; and

positioning the shield and the door handle into a second relative position at the conclusion of the germicide process whereby the door handle is accessible to the user to open the door.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the germicide process comprises:

illuminating an ultraviolet light.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning a shield and a handle into a first relative position comprises:

moving the shield, while the door handle remains stationary.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

alerting the user that the door handle is accessible to the user to open the door.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sensing an object in proximity to the door; and

generating a proximity signal based on the sensing.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

activating a safety override system based on the proximity signal.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information associated with the germicide process; and

transmitting a status message via a network, the status message comprising information associated with the germicide process.

8 . A door handle system comprising:

a door handle;

a shield;

a germicide source configured to disinfect the door handle; and

a driver configured to change the relative position of the door handle and the shield such that a user is shielded during application of the germicide source and such that the door handle is accessible to the user when the germicide source is not applied.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the driver is configured to move the shield from a first position to a second position.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the germicide source comprises:

an ultraviolet light.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the driver is configured to move the shield while the door handle remains stationary.

12 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an object in proximity to the door; and

an interface configured to generate a proximity signal based on the detection of the object.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a safety override system configured to deactivate the germicide source based on the proximity signal.

14 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a sensor configured to transmit information associated with the germicide source; and

an interface configured to transmit a status message via a network, the status message comprising information associated with the germicide source.

15 . An apparatus configured to attach to a door comprising a door handle, the apparatus comprising:

a bracket configured to attach to the door;

a shield;

a germicide source configured to disinfect the door handle; and

a driver configured to change the relative position of the door handle and the shield such that a user is shielded during application of the germicide source and such that the door handle is accessible to the user when the germicide source is not applied.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the germicide source comprises:

an ultraviolet light.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the driver is further configured to move the shield while the door handle remains stationary.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the driver is further configured to move the shield from a first position to a second position.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect an object in proximity to the door; and

an interface configured to generate a proximity signal based on the detection of the object.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising:

a safety override system configured to deactivate the germicide source based on the proximity signal.