Businessman creates hands-free door handle to help stop virus spread
ABRISTOL businessman has invented a device that could well become a common sight in offices, restaurants and pubs when we all start going out again – a door handle that you open with your arm.
The simple hands-free door opener was fashioned on a 3D printer at a business in Warmley, South Gloucestershire, after boss Jeff Cox began to think of ways of making his own office a safer environment.
With door handles the kind of surface most touched by the most number of different people, we’ve all struggled to pull our sleeve down over our hand, or tried to get an elbow in there to pull open a door – anything to avoid touching the handle with our hands.
Jeff Cox runs the New World Business Centre in Warmley, and one of the businesses there – Euro Moulding 3DS Solutions.
So he had the problem – how to make the office spaces he’s renting out ‘Covid-Secure’ – and the solution: a 3D printing business, right there.
Jeff and his team went through half a dozen prototypes to come up with the final design, and is now marketing it to anywhere with doors that the public, or office or business staff will have to pull.
“We went through a thorough testing process and at least six different prototypes, then subjected the arm to over three times the amount of stress that was required to meet minimum standards.
“In addition, the arm contains a special anti-viral additive which is designed to add a layer of protection.
“I’m very passionate that we need to support and try to kickstart our own manufacturing industry in the UK at such a difficult time.”
At the start of the coronavirus lockdown, his firm produced and gifted the NHS 250 PPE visors, before he set about creating an answer to the door handle conundrum.
Even if or when Covid-19 is gone, the arm pull handles will still be valuable in cutting down transmissions of other viruses, like colds and flu.
“I am a businessman but I also believe in integrity and trust, and giving back to the community where I can,” he said.
“I have invested a considerable amount of time over the past few months in designing and developing and honing the new AV Arm Pull Handle, plus a further significant investment in tooling but I am confident that this product will be very popular amongst universities, offices, and other workplaces which want to help their staff and visitors to stay Covid free.”
I believe in integrity and trust, and giving back to the community where I can Jeff Cox