U.S. patent application number 12/011485 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for disposable flexible cover for hospital remote control unit.
Invention is credited to Jay C. Steinberg.
Application Number | 20080190528 12/011485 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39644824 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080190528 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steinberg; Jay C. |
August 14, 2008 |
Disposable flexible cover for hospital remote control unit
Abstract
A disposable plastic cover for a patient remote control unit in
a hospital setting, is disclosed which comprises a pouch sized and
configured to correspond in size and shape to said remote control
unit, and having an opening defined by a marginal edge; a closure
means comprising a flap extending from the pouch means adjacent the
marginal edge, said flap adapted for securement to the pouch means
to contain said remote control unit; and releasable engagement
means disposed on at least one of said pouch means and said closure
means and positioned to reside there between when said flap is in
contact with said pouch means, to securely contain said remote
control unit. The covers of the present invention are easily
manufactured and used, and provide a secure barrier to the spread
of infection from the use of the remote control units.
Inventors: |
Steinberg; Jay C.;
(Marlboro, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLAUBER & JACKSON
411 HACKENSACK AVENUE
HACKENSACK
NJ
07601
US
|
Family ID: |
39644824 |
Appl. No.: |
12/011485 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60897080 |
Jan 24, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/165 ;
128/898; 206/701 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 9/0242
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/165 ;
206/701; 128/898 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02 |
Claims
1. A disposable flexible cover for the sanitary reception and
containment of a remote control unit for use in a hospital setting,
said cover comprising: a. pouch means sized and configured to
correspond to said remote control unit, said pouch means having an
opening defined by a marginal edge; b. closure means comprising a
flap and extending from said pouch means adjacent said marginal
edge, said flap adapted for securement to said pouch means to
contain said remote control unit; and c. releasable engagement
means disposed on at least one of said pouch means and said closure
means and positioned to reside there between when said flap is in
contact with said pouch means, to securely contain said remote
control unit.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein said releasable engagement means
comprises an adhesive strip located on said pouch means on the
outer surface thereof, and located for direct adhesive engagement
with said flap when said flap is placed against said outer surface
of said pouch means.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein said flap defines an opening
therein, located adjacent said marginal edge, said opening
configured to permit the extension there through of a connector
cord integral with said remote control unit.
4. The cover of claim 1 wherein said cover is constructed from a
flexible plastic material, which plastic material is selected from
the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene and
cellulosic resins.
5. The cover of claim 4 wherein said flexible resinous material has
a thickness of about 1.25 mil.
6. The cover of claim 1 wherein said cover is shaped and
dimensioned to snugly receive and contain said remote control
unit.
7. A method for the preparation of a flexible cover for the
sanitary reception and containment of a remote control unit in a
hospital setting, said method comprising: a. providing an endless
web of a flexible plastic material to defining a fold line
longitudinally along said flexible web; b. folding said web upon
itself, along said fold line, to form a pouch proximal to said fold
line, and a cover flap distal thereto; c. applying heat sealing
means in serial fashion at spaced intervals and in a direction
transverse to said fold line and the longitudinal dimension of said
web, so as to define said individual covers; d. providing a score
line between said adjacent covers to enable the packaging thereof
in multiple unit, tear away bundles; and e. retrieving said bundles
from said web and packaging said bundles as dispensable units for
use in said hospital.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein after step c, an opening is formed
in said flap for the protrusion of a power/data cord from said
remote control unit.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein, in step d, said adjacent covers
are severed from each other.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein, following step b, a score line
is formed along said flap, parallel and distal to said fold line
and spaced inwardly from the outer edge of said flap.
11. A method for inhibiting the transmission of infectious agents
in a hospital, comprising enclosing a remote control unit used by a
patient, in a disposable flexible cover of claim 1.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/897,080, filed
Jan. 24, 2007, the contents of which is hereby incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to sanitary covers
for hospital equipment, in particularly to a disposable plastic
cover for a hospital remote control unit, and particularly to such
units as are given to and used by patients at bedside.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A variety of disposable plastic covers have been employed in
diverse areas in healthcare, such as in the dental field, to
attempt to limit the transmission of infections and disease between
patients, healthcare providers and others who come in contact with
the same. Having said that, it is well known that the hospital
environment is an active breeding ground for numerous infections,
most of which at this date, are resistant to conventional
antibiotics. In particular, such infections as the methicillin
resistant s. aureus (mrsa) are well known and rampant.
[0004] A study conducted at the University of Arizona revealed that
the television remote control/nurse call button unit that is
routinely provided to hospital patients, is a leading cause of
transmission of infection as a carrier of bacteria in the patient's
hospital room. In the particular study, a comparison and
measurement was made of the remote control unit, in comparison to
the actuator handle on a hospital room toilet, and it was
determined that the former had a higher bacterial count than the
latter. A related study in the New England Journal of Medicine
indicates that hospital acquired infections affect as many as two
million patients per year, and are attributable for in excess of
ninety thousand deaths.
[0005] Clearly, the need for controlling, minimizing and if
possible, reducing or eliminating such disease transmissions in the
hospital environment is important and critical. Thus, it is toward
the achievement of such objectives that the present invention is
directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the present invention a disposable
flexible cover for the sanitary reception and containment of a
remote control unit used in a hospital setting, is disclosed, which
comprises a pouch means that is sized and configured to correspond
in dimension to the said remote control unit. The pouch means
comprises container which has an opening defined by a marginal
edge. A closure means extends from a portion of said opening
adjacent the marginal edge and defines a flap which is adapted for
the securement to an outer surface of the pouch means when the flap
is folded over the opening, so as to thereby contain the remote
control unit. When folded over the pouch means, the flap is adapted
to engage the outer surface of the pouch means and by doing so,
does not come in contact with or is not adjacent to the outer
surface of the remote control unit. A releasable engagement means
such as an adhesive strip or other fastening means, is provided to
reside between the adjacent surfaces of the flap and the outer
surface of the pouch means at the point where the two would come in
contact, and thereby secures the cover in its containment of the
remote control.
[0007] In a variation of the cover of the invention, an opening is
provided along the flap at a location adjacent the opening of the
pouch means, to allow the extension and travel of an electrical
connector cord of the like, in the instance where the remote
control is so designed and configured.
[0008] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the engagement
means is a strip of adhesive material that may be disposed on
either the adjacent marginal edge of the flap adapted for contact
with the pouch means, or correspondingly on the pouch means itself.
In either instance, the adhesive would be secured by a releasable
cover strip that would be removed before replacing the flap and the
pouch means into contact with each other. Alternatively, other
means for releasable engagement could be used, such as in the
instance where a reusable device or cover is designed, in such
instance, the cover itself might be of a sterilizable flexible
material and would be constructed in more sturdy fashion, in such
instance therefore the releasable engagement means might be a
corresponding Velcro.RTM. strip device installed on both the outer
surface of the pouch means and the adjacent surface of the
flap.
[0009] In a particular aspect of the disposable cover embodiment of
the invention, the cover may be constructed from a variety of
flexible, natural and synthetic resins, and particularly
polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as vinyl resins such as
polyvinyl acetate, as well as cellulosic resins such as cellulose
acetate and the like. The thickness of the flexible sheet
comprising the cover of the present invention should preferably be
1.25 mil as this has been found to be particularly important for
the operation of the controls on the remote and for the
transmission of any audible sounds that may issue from the remote
control. While a particular remote control/patient call device will
be illustrated herein, it is to be understood that a variety of
such multiple function devices are presently in commercial
manufacture, use and distribution in the hospital environment, and
the present invention is therefore contemplated to extend to all
such devices within its spirit and scope.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the invention extends to the
preparation of the disposable flexible cover by a method which
comprises:
[0011] a. providing an endless web of a flexible plastic material
to defining a fold line longitudinally along said flexible web;
[0012] b. folding said web upon itself, along said fold line, to
form a pouch proximal to said fold line, and a cover flap distal
thereto;
[0013] c. applying heat sealing means in serial fashion at spaced
intervals and in a direction transverse to said fold line and the
longitudinal dimension of said web, so as to define said individual
covers;
[0014] d. providing a score line between said adjacent covers to
enable the packaging thereof in multiple unit, tear away bundles;
and
[0015] e. retrieving said bundles from said web and packaging said
bundles as dispensable units for use in said hospital. In an
alternate embodiment, step d comprises severing the adjacent
covers, and thereafter assembling the individual covers to form the
dispensable units.
[0016] The present invention further extends to a method for
inhibiting the transmission of infectious agents in a hospital,
which comprises enclosing a remote control unit used by a patient,
in a disposable flexible cover of the present invention.
[0017] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a sanitary cover to inhibit the transmission
of infections in a hospital environment resulting from patient use
of a remote control unit at bedside.
[0018] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a cover as aforesaid, that is inexpensively and easily
manufactured and used.
[0019] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a cover as aforesaid, that provides secure and simple
application and removal and corresponding disposal.
[0020] It is a yet further object of the present invention to
provide a method for the manufacture of a cover as aforesaid, that
is rapid and low in cost.
[0021] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide a method for the inhibition of the spread of infection
transmitted from the contamination of the surface of hand-held
devices used by patients in a hospital setting, by enclosing such
device in a disposable flexible cover designed to snugly and
securely contain said device.
[0022] Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from a consideration of the ensuing detailed
description which proceeds with reference to the following
illustrative drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the broad surface of the
cover of the present invention, in the flattened position with the
pouch and flap longitudinally extended.
[0024] FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the cover of FIG. 1A
expanded so as to visualize the opening and cavity area of the
cover in its disposition for receipt and containment of a remote
control.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1B
showing the cover of the present invention containing a
representative remote control unit.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2
showing the opposite broad surface of the cover of the present
invention with the remote control unit disposed therein,
illustrating the engagement of the flap with the outer surface of
the pouch means.
[0027] FIGS. 4A-4D are plan views depicting a non-limiting
illustrative manufacturing method for the fabrication of the covers
of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan of the border between adjacent
covers as depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, illustrating the disposition of
serrations for `tear-away` separation therebetween.
[0029] FIG. 6A is a fragmentary plan view similar to that of FIG.
5, illustrating an alternate embodiment for the manufacture of a
plurality of covers in a dispensable form.
[0030] FIG. 6B is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 6A,
illustrating the separation of adjacent covers from each other, as
by cutting.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of the
covers prepared as described with reference to FIG. 6A, assembled
for sequential tear away release.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] From the foregoing description and illustrations other
objects and advantages can be appreciated and may readily be
attained.
[0033] Referring now to the Figures in which like numbers designate
like parts, and particularly with respect to FIG. 1A, cover 10 is
shown as a flat blank and comprises pouch means 12 which, as
illustrated in FIG. 1B, is adapted to expand to offer a chamber for
the reception and containment of a remote control unit.
[0034] Referring to both FIGS. 1A and 1B, pouch means 12 has an
opening which is defined by margin 14 which extends around the
perimeter of the same. Closure means 18 extends from pouch means 12
and defines flap 20 that, as illustrated herein, is adapted to fold
over and thereby cover the opening defined by margin 14, when a
remote control unit is contained within cover 10.
[0035] Cover 10 includes a releasable engagement means that is
disposed on at least one of the pouch means 12 or the closure means
18, to enable the secure engagement between the two when a remote
control unit is inserted and contained. As stated earlier, a
variety of releasable engagement means can be utilized to secure
flap 20 to the outer wall or surface 13 of pouch means 12. For
example, and as illustrated, an adhesive strip illustrated and
shown at 22, could be disposed either on the outer surface 13 of
pouch means 12 as illustrated, or alternately, could be disposed on
the mating surface of flap 20 at a location that would correspond
to a point of contact between the adjacent surface of flap 20 and
the outer surface of pouch means 12. Adhesive strip 22 as shown,
can be a releasable pressure sensitive composition of which many
are known in the art. In the instance where such a composition is
utilized, a non-adhesive removable barrier may be disposed there
over during manufacture, which would then be removed in use to
facilitate the bonding between the adjacent surfaces of flap 20 and
outer surface 13 of pouch means 12. Alternately, although not
illustrated specifically herein, both flap 20 and outer surface 13
of pouch means 12 could be provided with an interactive closure
means, such as a Velcro.RTM.-like attachment not specifically
shown, or a combination of adhesive materials that would co-act
upon contact. It is to be understood that the specific composition
of the adhesive or, more generally, the nature of the closure means
may vary within the skill of the art, so that the invention herein
is not limited to a specific such composition or device, but rather
encompasses all such compositions and devices within its scope.
[0036] Referring further to the Figures and particularly, to FIG.
2, cover 10 is illustrated in use, with a remote control unit
labeled 24, contained therein. In FIG. 2, the view of the cover and
remote control unit depicts the upper operating surface of said
unit so that the general controls are visible. In the embodiment
illustrated in the Figures and particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3
hereof, it can be noted that remote control unit 24 is connected to
the equipment being operated by a cord 26. To facilitate the secure
containment of remote control unit 24 in this configuration, flap
20 is provided with an opening or cutout 28 that allows the
extension there through of cord 24. The cutout or opening 28 is
likewise illustrated in FIGS. 1A-3 and in FIG. 4D discussed later
on herein with respect to a representative method of
fabrication.
[0037] As discussed earlier, cover 10 may be particularly
fabricated from a flexible plastic material, and generally one that
is transparent so that the indicia and controls in the remote unit
24 can be visually identified and thereby operated. The plastic
material from which cover 10 may be fabricated can vary within the
skill of the art, and can be both natural and synthetic resins
including, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene and
polypropylene and cellulosic resins including cellulose esters and
ethers, just to name a few. One aspect of the flexible material
constituting the cover of the present invention, is that it should
be of a thickness on the order of 1.25 mil. This particular
thickness has been found to facilitate the operability of the
remote control through the said cover and likewise, to be
permissive for any sounds that would be desirably emitted or heard
by use of such remote control.
[0038] As discussed above, the cover of the present invention is
capable of rapid, commercial scale manufacture, in accordance with
processes and corresponding equipment well known in the art. For
example, and as illustrated with respect to a first embodiment, in
FIGS. 4A-4D, the cover may be fabricated from an extended web of
clear plastic sheet material, 30, which may be initially fed from a
payout reel, not shown, to a first station where, as illustrated
schematically in FIG. 4A, a fold line 32 is imposed longitudinally
along web 30. Thereafter, web 30 may be fed into a set of rollers,
not shown, where it is folded upon itself along fold line 32, and
thereby appears as shown in FIG. 4B.
[0039] Turning now to FIG. 4B, web 30, in one embodiment of
manufacture, may be fed into a station, not shown, where a
plurality of parallel heated rollers or the like, would be
positioned in spaced-apart disposition from each other and adapted
for travel in a direction transverse to the longitudinal dimension
and direction of travel of web 30. From the figure six such roller
sets could be set up, and would correspond to the arrows shown to
the left of web 30. Naturally the number of such roller sets could
vary within the skill of the art, as could their construction and
specific operation, so long as their operation causes the heat
sealing or bonding along their line of travel, to define and
thereby form successive individual and adjacent cover units
thereby. As shown in FIG. 4B, such rollers could be positioned, for
example, as depicted by the arrows, to pass across the web, and by
doing so, to heat seal or bond the web and to thereby form the
lateral edges 34 of the individual and successive covers 10.
[0040] Subsequent to the definition and disposition of lateral
margins of the respective adjacent covers 10, the thus processed
web 30 could travel to a next downstream station, where a
continuous bead or ribbon of a flowable adhesive, corresponding to
adhesive 22, could be applied. As discussed earlier, adhesive 22
may be disposed on the outer surface 13 of pouch means 12 as
illustrated, or could be laid down on the mating surface of flap
20, as in either instance, the adhesive would be positioned to hold
the adjacent surfaces of the flap and the pouch together in use.
Concurrently with or just downstream from the application of
adhesive 22, a removable (pull-away) barrier strip 36, formed e.g.
from a plastic sheet material having one surface thereof treated
with a release coating, could be applied from a payout reel, to
said adhesive 22 to prevent premature and unwanted bonding prior to
use.
[0041] Thereafter, the heat sealed web defining the plurality of
connected covers, could be moved further downstream to a next
station, not shown, where corresponding rollers or blades could
provide serrations such as along the heat bonded margins, in a
position medial to the lateral edges of said bonded margins, so as
to facilitate the detachment of adjacent covers from each other in
the instance where the covers are packaged for use, as described
later on herein.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 5, with respect to the covers prepared
according to FIGS. 4A-4D, adjacent covers 10 have their lateral
borders 34 weakened along a line medial thereto, by serrated line
38. Thus, in the instance where a plurality of covers 10 are either
wound around a dowel, or folded over each other alternately, e.g.
in `zig-zag` fashion (neither embodiment shown) to form a
dispensable unit, the user would merely pull and tear off a cover
from the rest of the dispensable unit.
[0043] Referring again to FIGS. 1A-4D, and in the instance as
illustrated herein, where cover 10 is to be used with a remote
control unit having a corded power connection, such as remote unit
24 with cord 26 illustrated and discussed earlier, web 30 could
travel further downstream to a station where openings such as
opening 28 could be sequentially punched or die cut through flap
20, to permit the passage of cord 26 therethrough.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 6A-7, the covers of the invention may
be manufactured and assembled for use in an alternate
configuration. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6A, covers 10 may be prepared
from an extended web as described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D. In
the present embodiment, the web would be wider than web 30
illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, and would include an anchor 42,
extending from the free end of flap 20 and separable therefrom in
use, by the provision of a serration 44. Serration 44 could be
imposed at a station just upstream of the final assembly of the
covers 10 of this embodiment, so that the illustration of FIG. 6A
represents the final disposition of the covers before they are
separated for final assembly into a dispensable unit.
[0045] The next step in the manufacture of a dispensable unit in
accordance with this embodiment, is the separation of the adjacent
covers 10 from each other. Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the
lateral borders 34 of adjacent covers 10 could be completely
severed, rather than serrated, along a cut line 40. Accordingly,
the covers 10 of FIG. 6A could be indexed to a station downstream
of their final assembly, where one or more cutters, not shown could
travel across the web and along the medial portion of borders 34,
at cut line 40, to sever adjacent covers from each other. The
severed covers could then be gathered and stacked in alignment with
each other. Such stacks could vary in number of covers within the
skill of the art.
[0046] After stacking, the covers could be e.g. fastened to a base
46, as by staples or the like, not specifically illustrated herein,
and would then be capable of mounting in a suitable dispenser for
end use. Such a dispensable unit is shown in FIG. 7. In this
embodiment, adjacent covers 10 would be suspended from base 46 by
anchors 42. In use, each cover 10 would be torn away from anchor 42
along serration 44, thereby exposing the next adjacent cover for
use.
[0047] The foregoing description is illustrative and is provided to
offer a best mode of carrying out the manufacture of the cover of
the present invention. The specific sequence of steps could vary
from that described above, so that, for example, the die cutting or
punching of openings 26 could take place before the serration of
the lateral margins of adjacent covers 10.
[0048] Accordingly and as described above, the covers 10 of the
present invention could manufactured for delivery and distribution
in commercial quantities and packaging, to comprise dispensable
units, such as on rolls, or in alternately folded relationship, in
the latter instance such as with facial tissues and the like. Such
dispensable units could be easily and inexpensively located for
access and use either in or adjacent to the rooms of the hospital
where remote control units are located. The deployment of the
covers of the invention would facilitate ease of use in accordance
with best practices for hygiene, so that successive covers could be
easily removed from remote control units and replaced, as on
patient discharge or transfer from a particular hospital location,
so that a clean and sanitary cover would always be present on a
remote control unit. It can be appreciated that the use of such
covers on a regular basis will provide an inexpensive, expedient
and effective means for reducing the incidence of infection in the
hospital setting.
[0049] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to
be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the
invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size,
arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather
is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within
its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.
* * * * *