# US 9,039,842 B2 · Moving handrail sanitizing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,842 B2 - Document ID: US9039842B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/458,571 - Filed: 2012-04-27 - Published: 2012-11-01 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-27 - Applicants: Richard Holloway; Luke Schwandt - Inventors: Richard Holloway; Luke Schwandt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039842B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/16: using chemical substances - B66B 31/02: for handrails - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours - A61L 2/22: Phase substances, e.g. smokes or aerosols - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract A device for cleaning and sanitizing a moving handrail, such as those found on escalators and moving walkways. The device can automatically and continuously sanitize a handrail as it moves past or through the device, thereby preventing the spread of germs and viruses and encouraging users to make contact with the handrail for safety reasons without worrying about disease transmission. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A moving handrail sanitizing device comprising: a sanitizer container configured to store a sanitizing substance; an applicator configured to apply said sanitizing substance to a moving handrail; a connector coupled with said sanitizer container and said applicator; an indicator; and a sensor coupled with said indicator; wherein said sensor is embedded within said applicator at a predetermined height; wherein said sensor is configured to activate said indicator when said applicator is worn down to said predetermined height; and wherein said connector is configured to convey said sanitizing substance from said sanitizer container to said applicator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, wherein: said sanitizer container comprises a container outlet; said applicator comprises an applicator inlet; said connector is a tube comprising a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said proximal end is coupled with said container outlet, and said distal end is coupled with said applicator inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, further comprising a support structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 3, wherein said support structure comprises one or more indicators. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 3, wherein said support structure comprises one or more access points. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, further comprising a scraper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, wherein said applicator comprises a sponge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 7, wherein said sponge is configured to absorb said sanitizing substance and apply said sanitizing substance to a moving handrail when said sponge is in contact with said moving handrail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 7, wherein said applicator comprises a rising mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 9, wherein said applicator comprises a base and a tray; said sponge is removably coupled with said tray; wherein said rising mechanism is one or more springs located between said base and said tray. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 9, wherein said rising mechanism is one or more pistons. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 9, wherein said rising mechanism is one or more scissor lifts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, further comprising: an indicator; and a sensor coupled with said indicator; wherein said sensor is coupled with the interior of said sanitizer container, and wherein said sensor is configured to activate said indicator when the level of said sanitizing substance is below a predetermined level within said sanitizer container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, wherein said applicator is a spray nozzle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises one or more valves. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, wherein said applicator is configured to constantly apply said sanitizing substance to said moving handrail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The moving handrail sanitizing device of claim 1, wherein said applicator is configured to intermittently apply said sanitizing substance to said moving handrail.