US Patent:
20060010652, Jan 19, 2006
Inventors:
Martin Kellaher - Guilford CT, US
Harry Brady - Guilford CT, US
International Classification:
A45C 13/26
A61F 2/00
Abstract:
A replaceable cover for a handle in public use, comprising a soft, molded elastomeric membrane of thickness in the range 0.01 to 0.25 inch impregnated with an antimicrobial agent, that is sufficiently flexible to be stretched over and snugly form fit and self-retained on the handle without adhesive. The membrane can be a thin, hollow shell that is open at one end and has three mutually orthogonal axes on respective mutually orthogonal planes. The membrane forms a surface that is traceable as a substantially continuously curved line in each of these planes from a fixed center within the shell, spanning at least about 270 degrees about the center. The invention is also directed to the combination of a handle having a body and a rigidly projecting rotatable stem, with a replaceable, stretchable, elastomeric cover impregnated with an antimicrobial agent that is snugly form fit onto the body over at least about 65% and preferably at least 75% of the surface area of the body.
