IP Library Granted Patent US 12,397,074
Granted Patent B2
US 12,397,074 · App. 18/080,014 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Door handle sanitizing device

Inventor: Dean Schumacher (Orchard Lake, MI)
Assignee: Germ Dome Industries LLC
A61L2/10A61L2/24G01P13/00A61L2202/11A61L2202/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,397,074
App. No.
18/080,014
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door handle sanitizing apparatus may include a posterior wall configured to be disposed anterior of and substantially parallel to a door surface and having an inner surface, an arch portion extending in an anterior direction from the posterior wall, the arch portion having an anterior end and an inner surface, a first sanitizing agent source disposed on the posterior wall, and a second sanitizing agent source disposed on the inner surface of the arch portion.

Claims (48)

1. A door handle sanitizing apparatus comprising:

a posterior wall configured to be disposed anterior of and substantially parallel to a door surface and having an inner surface;

an arch portion extending in an anterior direction from the posterior wall, the arch portion having an anterior end and an inner surface;

a first sanitizing light source disposed on the posterior wall inner surface; and

a second sanitizing light source disposed on the inner surface of the arch portion, wherein a center of a light projection field of the second sanitizing light source intersects a plane comprising the posterior wall.

2. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first sanitizing light source or the second sanitizing agent source is a germicidal ultraviolet light source.

3. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first sanitizing light source or the second sanitizing agent source is an LED.

4. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first sanitizing light source is angled at between 30 degrees and 60 degrees with respect to the posterior wall.

5. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second sanitizing light source is angled to project the sanitizing agent towards the posterior wall.

6. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor disposed under the arch portion, wherein the apparatus is configured to deactivate the first and second sanitizing light sources responsive to the motion sensor detecting motion.

7. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising an electronic controller in electronic communication with the motion sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:

instruct the first and second sanitizing light sources to begin a sanitization cycle;

receive an indication from the motion sensor that the motion sensor has detected motion;

in response to the indication, instruct the first and second sanitizing light sources to pause the sanitization cycle; and

instruct the first and second sanitizing light sources to resume the sanitization cycle.

8. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the first and second sanitizing light sources to resume the sanitization cycle in response to the motion sensor not detecting motion for a predetermined period of time.

9. A door handle sanitizing apparatus comprising:

an inner surface comprising:

a first, linear portion disposed generally parallel to a door and anterior to the door when the apparatus is affixed to the door, wherein the first portion extends from a transition portion to a linear tip; and

a second, curved portion that projects in an anterior direction and curves away from the transition portion of the first portion to an anterior tip;

wherein the inner surface defines a projected two-dimensional area that is perpendicular to the door and extends along the inner surface, anterior from the linear tip, and down from the anterior tip;

a first sanitizing agent source disposed on the first portion; and

a second sanitizing agent source disposed on the second portion;

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive and sanitize a door handle extending through the projected two-dimensional area.

10. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

two opposed sidewalls that are generally parallel to each other and generally transverse to the door when the apparatus is affixed to the door;

wherein the inner surface extends between the two sidewalls.

11. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a transverse cross-sectional shape of the inner surface is a J-shape.

12. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first sanitizing agent source or the second sanitizing agent source is a germicidal ultraviolet light source.

13. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first sanitizing ag agent source or the second sanitizing agent source is an LED.

14. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second sanitizing agent is angled at between 30 degrees and 60 degrees with respect to the first portion.

15. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second sanitizing agent source is angled to project the sanitizing agent towards the first portion.

16. A door handle sanitizing apparatus comprising:

an inner surface comprising:

a posterior portion disposed generally parallel to a door and anterior to the door when the apparatus is affixed to the door, wherein the posterior portion extends from a transition portion to a linear tip; and

an arched portion that projects in an anterior direction and curves away from the transition portion of the first portion to an anterior tip,

wherein the inner surface defines a projected two-dimensional area that is perpendicular to the door and extends along the inner surface, anterior from the linear tip, and down from the anterior tip;

a first sanitizing agent source disposed on the posterior portion; and

a second sanitizing agent source disposed on the arched portion;

wherein a transverse cross-sectional shape of the inner surface is a J-shape.

17. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive and sanitize a door handle extending through the projected two-dimensional area.

18. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first sanitizing agent source or the second sanitizing agent source is a germicidal ultraviolet light source.

19. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a motion sensor disposed under the arch portion, wherein the apparatus is configured to deactivate the first and second sanitizing agent sources responsive to the motion sensor detecting motion.

20. The door handle sanitizing apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising an electronic controller in electronic communication with the motion sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:

instruct the first and second sanitizing agent sources to begin a sanitization cycle;

receive an indication from the motion sensor that the motion sensor has detected motion;

in response to the indication, instruct the first and second sanitizing agent sources to pause the sanitization cycle; and

instruct the first and second sanitizing agent sources to resume the sanitization cycle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2022
From: SCHUMACHER, DEAN
To: GERM DOME INDUSTRIES LLC
Reel/Frame 062065/0907 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16932221 · Jul 17, 2020
Related Publication 20230248863A1 · Aug 10, 2023
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