US 12296061

US Patent 12296061:

• Title: System and apparatus for sanitizing a door opening device or other point of contact
• Assignee: Individual
• Inventor: Dean Schumacher
• Filing Date: 2024-08-14 (Application number: US18/804,396)
• Issue Date: 2025-05-13 (Publication number: US12296061B2)
• Abstract: An apparatus for sanitizing a point-of-contact surface includes a housing configured to be affixed about at least a portion of the point of contact. The housing features an interior cavity for accessing the point of contact and an anterior opening for user access. The apparatus also contains one or more sources of a sanitizing agent, such as germicidal light, directed towards the point-of-contact surface. Additionally, reflective surfaces like an anterior dome, an inner surface, and/or a posterior surface are configured to direct the sanitizing agent towards the point-of-contact surface, enhancing exposure.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a sanitizing apparatus for an object. It comprises a housing that forms an internal cavity to hold the object (which has a sanitizing surface). The housing is defined by a first end wall, a side wall (connected to and extending from the first end wall), and a second end wall opposite the first. The second end wall includes an opening into the cavity. Inside this cavity, there is at least one light source that emits germicidal light.
• Claim 11: This claim details a sanitizing apparatus for an object with a sanitizing surface. Its housing also creates an interior cavity. This housing has a posterior wall at one end, a side wall extending from this posterior wall, and an anterior wall at the opposite end, which defines an opening into the cavity. A key feature is that the interior surfaces of the posterior wall, anterior wall, and side wall are all designed to be UV reflective, ensuring that germicidal light from the internal light source is reflected towards the object.
• Claim 18: This claim outlines a sanitizing apparatus for an object with a sanitizing surface. It includes a housing with an interior cavity for the object. The housing consists of a first end wall, a side wall connected to the first end wall, and a second end wall at the opposite end. A distinct feature of this claim is that the second end wall has a curved structure, and its interior surface, which defines part of the cavity, also forms an opening into the cavity. At least one germicidal light source is positioned within the interior cavity.

Litigation and Status as of April 26, 2026:

The patent US12296061B2 is currently Active.
The patent family is involved in litigation.
Specific litigation instances noted include:

• A US case filed in the Utah District Court (case: 2:24-cv-00589).

• A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, PGR2026-00030, which is currently pending. This PTAB case was filed in 2026, making it directly relevant to the requested date context.

• First worldwide family litigation has been filed.US Patent 12296061 Summary

• Title: System and apparatus for sanitizing a door opening device or other point of contact

• Assignee: Individual

• Inventor: Dean Schumacher

• Filing Date: 2024-08-14 (Application number US18/804,396)

• Issue Date: 2025-05-13 (Publication number US12296061B2)

• Abstract: The patent describes an apparatus for sanitizing a point-of-contact surface, such as a doorknob or ATM. It features a housing designed to fit around at least a portion of the object, providing an interior cavity for access to the contact surface and an anterior opening for users. The apparatus includes one or more sources of a sanitizing agent, typically germicidal light, directed towards the surface. Key components like an anterior dome, an inner surface, and a posterior surface are configured to reflect and focus the sanitizing agent onto the contact surface, enhancing its effectiveness.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a sanitizing device with a housing that creates an internal space (interior cavity) to surround an object (the sanitizing surface). The housing has a back wall (first end wall), a side wall that extends from and is integrated with the back wall, and a front wall (second end wall) on the opposite side. The front wall contains an opening to access the internal space. Inside this space, there is at least one germicidal light source that emits sanitizing light.

• Claim 11: Similar to Claim 1, this claim describes a sanitizing device for an object with a sanitizing surface. It features a housing with a back wall (posterior wall), a side wall extending from it, and a front wall (anterior wall) with an opening. The unique aspect here is that the interior surfaces of the posterior wall, anterior wall, and side wall are all designed to reflect UV light. This reflective capability ensures that the germicidal light from the internal source is directed efficiently toward the object to be sanitized.

• Claim 18: This claim also outlines a sanitizing apparatus for an object with a sanitizing surface. It includes a housing with a back wall (first end wall), a side wall extending from it, and a front wall (second end wall) that has a distinctive curved structure. This curved front wall also defines an opening into the interior cavity. Within this cavity, at least one germicidal light source is positioned to provide sanitizing light.

Litigation and Status as of April 26, 2026:

US Patent 12296061B2 is currently Active. The patent family associated with US12296061B2 is involved in litigation. Specifically:

• A US case has been filed in the Utah District Court (case number 2:24-cv-00589).
• A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, PGR2026-00030, has been filed and is currently pending.