# US 11,440,720 B1 · Enclosure and method for prevention of health-care-associated infections from contaminated devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,720 B1 - Document ID: US11440720B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/724,353 - Filed: 2019-12-22 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Applicants: Kenneth R. Sacks - Inventors: Kenneth R. Sacks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440720B1 ## CPC - B65D 81/18: providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38) - A45C 13/002: {Protective covers} - A45C 11/002: {for storing portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones} - A61G 10/005: {Isolators, i.e. enclosures generally comprising flexible walls for maintaining a germ-free environment} - A61G 13/10: Parts, details or accessories (surgical drape sheets A61B46/00) - A61G 2210/30: for intensive care - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A novel enclosure is used to prevent health-care-associated infections caused by contamination of devices such as cellular telephones, laptops, tablet computers, purses, and briefcases. Such a device is placed into the enclosure and is carried into a disinfected or clean environment, such as an operating room. The enclosure prevents infectious agents or other contaminants on the surface of the device from contaminating the clean environment. The enclosure also protects the environments outside the operating room from contaminants within the operating room. The enclosure is inexpensively manufactured and disposable. The enclosure may include an effective amount of antibacterial, antifungal, and/or antiviral compounds. The enclosure may be used in the residence of an individual with a compromised immune system. The enclosure may be used to bring a device into and out of a home or room of an individual who is extremely neat or is inflicted with an obsessive-compulsive disorder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An enclosure comprising: a bag portion made of an amount of flexible plastic sheet material and having an opening; and an opening restricting mechanism disposed along a rim of the opening, wherein when a device is placed through the opening and into the bag portion of the enclosure, then a portion of a display, touchpad, or keyboard of the device is exposed to an outer environment through the opening, and wherein the opening restricting mechanism is taken from the group consisting of: an elastic band and a drawstring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material is taken from the group consisting of: a poly vinyl chloride (PVC) material, a polyethylene material, a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material, a silicone rubber material, a nylon material, a flexible silicone composition, a polyamide material, and a polyether block amide material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material has a thickness and the thickness is between 0.10 mils and 1.2 mils thick. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material comprises an antimicrobial material taken from the group consisting of: an antibacterial material, an antifungal material, an antiviral material, and a combination of one or more of an antibacterial material, an antifungal material, or an antiviral material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the antimicrobial material is about 0.0001 percent to about 5 percent by weight of the flexible plastic sheet material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material is transparent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material further comprises advertising indicia. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the device is enclosed in a protective case, and wherein the device and protective case are placed through the opening and into the bag portion of the enclosure while the device is enclosed in the protective case. ### Claim 9 An enclosure comprising: a bag portion made of an amount of flexible plastic sheet material and having an opening; and means for restricting the opening of the bag portion, wherein when a device is placed through the opening and into the bag portion of the enclosure, then a portion of a display, touchpad, or keyboard of the device is exposed to an outer environment through the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The enclosure of claim 9, wherein the means for restricting the opening of the bag portion is a drawstring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The enclosure of claim 9, wherein the means for restricting the opening of the bag portion comprises an elastic band disposed along a rim of the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material has a thickness and the thickness is between 0.10 mils and 1.2 mils thick. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material is transparent. ### Claim 14 A method involving an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes an amount of flexible plastic sheet material and has an opening, wherein the opening has a rim, the method comprising: (a) removing the enclosure from a draw station dispenser; (b) placing a cellular telephone into the enclosure such that at least a majority of a touchpad of the cellular telephone is exposed through the opening, wherein the opening has an area of at least six square inches when the cellular telephone is in place in the enclosure, wherein the cellular telephone has four side surfaces and a bottom surface, and wherein the flexible plastic sheet material of the enclosure encloses all four side surfaces of the cellular telephone and also encloses the bottom surface of the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is in place in the enclosure; and (c) transporting the cellular telephone when it is in place in the enclosure into an operating room. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material comprises an antimicrobial film, wherein an elastic band is disposed around the rim of the opening, and wherein the placing of (b) involves expanding the opening against a restricting force of the elastic band, and then moving the cellular telephone through the expanded opening, and then allowing the elastic band to restrict the size of the opening when the cellular telephone is in the enclosure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the flexible plastic sheet material has a length LL measured from a first location on the rim on a side of the opening, extending lengthwise around the bottom surface of the cellular telephone, and to a second location on the rim on the opposite side of the opening, wherein LL is more than five inches and less than six inches, and wherein the flexible plastic sheet material has a length LW measured from a third location on the rim on a side of the opening, extending widthwise around the bottom surface of the cellular telephone, and to a fourth location on the rim on the opposite side of the opening, wherein LW is more than three inches and less than four inches. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the draw station dispenser includes an image of a cellular telephone disposed in an enclosure made of flexible plastic sheet material, and wherein the image of the cellular telephone shows at least a part of a screen of the cellular telephone exposed through an opening in the enclosure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the rim of the opening has a substantially rectangular shape when the enclosure is in place on the cellular telephone. ### Claim 19 An enclosure comprising: a bag portion, wherein the bag portion has an access opening, and wherein the bag portion is formed from flexible material; and a rim disposed along a periphery of the access opening, wherein when a device is disposed within the bag portion of the enclosure, then a portion of a display, touchpad, or keyboard of the device is exposed to an outer environment through the access opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein the device is taken from the group consisting of: a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, and a tablet computer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein the bag portion includes one or more fenestrations smaller in size than the access opening, wherein the device is inserted into the enclosure through the access opening, and wherein the flexible material is transparent. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein the bag portion includes a second opening, wherein the device is inserted into the enclosure via the second opening, and wherein the device is operated through the access opening. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The enclosure of claim 22, wherein the second opening is sealable via a flap attached to the second opening. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein the flexible material is taken from the group consisting of: a poly vinyl chloride (PVC) material, a polyethylene material, a polypropylene material, a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material, a silicone rubber material, a nylon material, a flexible silicone composition, a polyamide material, and a polyether block amide material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein the flexible material includes an antimicrobial material taken from the group consisting of: an antibacterial material, an antifungal material, an antiviral material, and a combination of one or more of an antibacterial material, an antifungal material, or an antiviral material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein a disinfectant pad is attached to a back surface of the bag portion, and wherein the disinfectant pad is usable to disinfect the device or hands of a user. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein advertising or instructional indicia is printed or manufactured onto the bag portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The enclosure of claim 19, wherein the enclosure is usable in any area external to the operating room, including home use or use in any outside space. ### Claim 29 A method involving an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes an amount of flexible plastic sheet material and has an opening, the method comprising: (a) removing the enclosure from a draw station dispenser; (b) placing a device into the enclosure such that at least a majority of a touchpad, display, or keyboard of the device is exposed through the opening, wherein the device has side surfaces and a bottom surface, and wherein the flexible plastic sheet material of the enclosure encloses the side surfaces of the device and also encloses the bottom surface of the device when the device is in place in the enclosure; and (c) transporting the device when it is in place in the enclosure.