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.

As a patent attorney, I have investigated public records for litigation involving US patent 12296061.

Based on the available information as of April 26, 2026, here is the known litigation involving US Patent 12296061:

Unified Patents Litigation Data:

• Case Type: US case filed

• Jurisdiction: Utah District Court

• Case Number: 2:24-cv-00589

• Status: Litigation

• Case Type: PTAB case filed (Pending)

• Case Number: PGR2026-00030

• Status: Litigation (Pending)

Darts-ip also indicates that there is "Global patent litigation dataset” available, which covers the full litigation history of this patent family.

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 12296061: a Post-Grant Review (PGR) that is currently pending. This means no claims have been invalidated or sustained by the PTAB yet. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, the patent's claims remain untested by the PTAB.

PGR2026-00030 — Hyundai Motor America, Inc. v. Dean Schumacher

• Type: Post-Grant Review
• Filed: 2026-02-13
• Status: Pending. The petition has been filed and is awaiting an institution decision from the PTAB.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific Administrative Patent Judges assigned to the panel is not typically made public until closer to the institution decision or institution itself.
• Petition grounds: The petition by Hyundai Motor America, Inc. challenges claims 1-20 of US12296061B2. The grounds asserted are under 35 U.S.C. § 101, 35 U.S.C. § 102, 35 U.S.C. § 103, and 35 U.S.C. § 112.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The deadline for the PTAB to decide whether to institute the PGR is expected around August 2026 (6 months from petition filing, or later if a Patent Owner Preliminary Response is filed).
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable (proceeding is pending).
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable (proceeding is pending).
• Appeal: Not applicable (proceeding is pending).
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that all claims (1-20) of US12296061B2 are currently under review for patentability by the PTAB. While no claims have been invalidated yet, the existence of this PGR creates significant uncertainty regarding the patent's validity. If the PGR is instituted, it will provide an avenue for a third party to challenge the patentability of these claims.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims (1-20) of US12296061B2 are UNTESTED at the PTAB, as the sole Post-Grant Review (PGR2026-00030) is still in the preliminary stages awaiting an institution decision. There are no claims that have been CANCELED or SUSTAINED by the PTAB to date.

The estoppel landscape has not yet fully formed. If PGR2026-00030 is instituted and proceeds to a Final Written Decision, 35 U.S.C. § 325(e)(2) would bar the petitioner, Hyundai Motor America, Inc. (and its privies), from asserting in future civil actions or ITC proceedings that a claim is invalid on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during the PGR. For other potential defendants not privy to Hyundai, the full range of prior art grounds, including those under §§ 101, 102, 103, and 112, remains available for challenge.

No discernible pattern signals are evident from this single, early-stage proceeding. The PGR was filed by Hyundai Motor America, Inc., which is a commercial entity and not typically a defensive aggregator like Unified Patents. The filing occurred on the last day of the 9-month window from the patent's grant date (2025-05-13), indicating a timely challenge.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US12296061B2:

• Monitor PGR2026-00030 closely: The next critical milestone is the institution decision, which is anticipated around August 2026. This decision will determine whether the PTAB proceeds to a full review of claims 1-20. The progress of this case can be tracked on the USPTO PTAB E2E system by searching for PGR2026-00030.
• Review the petition grounds: Understand the specific arguments made by Hyundai Motor America, Inc. against claims 1-20 under §§ 101, 102, 103, and 112. These arguments could inform your own invalidity contentions if you choose to pursue a defense against the patent.
• Assess potential for intervention: If your interests align with the petitioner, consider the possibility of intervening in the PGR, though this is rare and subject to PTAB discretion.
• Evaluate your own prior art: Even if the PGR is denied, or if some claims survive, you may have different prior art or arguments that were not raised or could not have been raised by Hyundai.## Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 12296061: a Post-Grant Review (PGR) that is currently pending. This means no claims have been invalidated or sustained by the PTAB yet. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, the patent's claims remain untested by the PTAB.

PGR2026-00030 — Hyundai Motor America, Inc. v. Dean Schumacher

• Type: Post-Grant Review
• Filed: 2026-02-13
• Status: Pending. The petition has been filed and is awaiting an institution decision from the PTAB.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific Administrative Patent Judges assigned to the panel is not typically made public until closer to the institution decision or institution itself.
• Petition grounds: The petition by Hyundai Motor America, Inc. challenges claims 1-20 of US12296061B2. The grounds asserted are under 35 U.S.C. § 101, 35 U.S.C. § 102, 35 U.S.C. § 103, and 35 U.S.C. § 112.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The deadline for the PTAB to decide whether to institute the PGR is expected around August 2026 (approximately 6 months from the petition filing date, or later if a Patent Owner Preliminary Response has been filed).
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable (proceeding is pending).
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable (proceeding is pending).
• Appeal: Not applicable (proceeding is pending).
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that all claims (1-20) of US12296061B2 are currently under review for patentability by the PTAB. While no claims have been invalidated yet, the existence of this PGR creates significant uncertainty regarding the patent's validity. If the PGR is instituted, it will provide an avenue for a third party to challenge the patentability of these claims.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims (1-20) of US12296061B2 are UNTESTED at the PTAB, as the sole Post-Grant Review (PGR2026-00030) is still in the preliminary stages awaiting an institution decision. There are no claims that have been CANCELED or SUSTAINED by the PTAB to date.

The estoppel landscape has not yet fully formed. If PGR2026-00030 is instituted and proceeds to a Final Written Decision, 35 U.S.C. § 325(e)(2) would bar the petitioner, Hyundai Motor America, Inc. (and its privies), from asserting in future civil actions or ITC proceedings that a claim is invalid on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during the PGR. For other potential defendants not privy to Hyundai, the full range of prior art grounds, including those under §§ 101, 102, 103, and 112, remains available for challenge.

No discernible pattern signals are evident from this single, early-stage proceeding. The PGR was filed by Hyundai Motor America, Inc., which is a commercial entity and not typically a defensive aggregator like Unified Patents. The filing occurred on the last day of the 9-month window from the patent's grant date (2025-05-13), indicating a timely challenge.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US12296061B2:

• Monitor PGR2026-00030 closely: The next critical milestone is the institution decision, which is anticipated around August 2026. This decision will determine whether the PTAB proceeds to a full review of claims 1-20. The progress of this case can be tracked on the USPTO PTAB E2E system by searching for PGR2026-00030.
• Review the petition grounds: Understand the specific arguments made by Hyundai Motor America, Inc. against claims 1-20 under §§ 101, 102, 103, and 112. These arguments could inform your own invalidity contentions if you choose to pursue a defense against the patent.
• Assess potential for intervention: If your interests align with the petitioner, consider the possibility of intervening in the PGR, though this is rare and subject to PTAB discretion.
• Evaluate your own prior art: Even if the PGR is denied, or if some claims survive, you may have different prior art or arguments that were not raised or could not have been raised by Hyundai.

Inventors

The sole named inventor is Dean Schumacher. Their employer at the time of filing is not determinable from the provided patent document. There are no unusual patterns, such as multiple inventors departing an original assignee, as only one inventor is listed and the patent is currently assigned to an individual.

Original assignee

The original assignee, as listed on the patent, is "Individual" (Dean Schumacher). The patent describes a "System and apparatus for sanitizing a door opening device or other point of contact". There is no information within the patent text or on its Google Patents page indicating that the individual, Dean Schumacher, manufactures or ships a product embodying the claims. Therefore, it is unclear if a product is shipped. The primary line of business is not applicable for an individual owner. The current status is that the individual remains the active owner of the patent.

Assignment timeline

A search of the USPTO Patent Assignment Center for US patent 12296061, as of 2026-05-29, yielded no recorded assignments for this specific patent number. This indicates that the original assignee, Dean Schumacher (listed as "Individual"), remains the recorded owner of US12296061B2.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12296061
    2011 : Priority date from parent application
    2024 : Application filed by Individual
    2025 : Issued to Individual

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. There is no recorded transfer of this patent from an operating company to a shell entity. The patent is currently assigned to an "Individual".
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present as a recorded transfer to a known asserter. However, the patent family is noted to be involved in active litigation, including a US case filed in Utah District Court (case 2:24-cv-00589) and a PTAB PGR proceeding (PGR2026-00030). This suggests that the individual owner may be acting as an asserter.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. No assignment records are found for this patent, therefore no correspondent information is available to identify recurrence.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. No transfers are recorded for this patent.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. There are no recorded assignments of this specific patent that pre-date the noted litigation in the patent family.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the original assignee.
7. Privateering — Unclear. No transfer to an NPE is recorded, so privateering cannot be confirmed.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is not currently assigned to a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence. While there are no recorded assignments for US12296061B2 indicating a transfer to a shell entity or known asserter, the patent is owned by an "Individual" and its family is explicitly noted on Google Patents as being involved in active litigation (US case 2:24-cv-00589 and PTAB PGR2026-00030). The absence of an operating company producing products embodying the claims, combined with active assertion of the patent family, points towards an NPE model where the individual inventor is directly asserting the patent.

USPTO Assignment Center search for US12296061: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12296061, I will consult the patent's own citations from the Google Patents link provided. The USPTO's Patent Public Search tool can be used to search for patents and patent application publications. However, for obtaining citation information for a specific patent number, directly accessing the "Citations" section on the Google Patents page is often more efficient.

Based on the information from the provided patent text, here are the patent citations listed under "Patent Citations," which are generally considered prior art. I will focus on those cited by the examiner, as they are typically considered most relevant in the examination process.

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 12296061, focusing on the patents cited by the examiner.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 12296061

When evaluating prior art, it is important to consider how each reference relates to the independent claims (Claims 1, 11, and 18) of US12296061.

1. US4710634A

• Full Citation: US4710634A - Sanitary door handle having an upper housing and a spacer element
• Publication Date: 1987-12-01
• Brief Description: This patent describes a sanitary door handle with an upper housing and a spacer element. While the detailed description of the sanitizing mechanism (e.g., germicidal light) is not fully clear from the title, it addresses the problem of door handle hygiene and features a housing.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This patent may anticipate elements of Claim 1, particularly regarding a "housing at least partially defining an interior cavity configured to accept the object" and the "housing including: a first end wall... a sidewall... and a second end wall...". The concept of a housing around a door handle for sanitary purposes is present. The lack of explicit germicidal light, however, might differentiate it.
  • Claim 11 & 18: Without further details on the sanitizing agent or reflective surfaces, it's less likely to directly anticipate the specific UV reflective features of Claim 11 or the curved structure of Claim 18.

2. US4806770A

• Full Citation: US4806770A - Germicidal toothbrush holder
• Publication Date: 1989-02-21
• Brief Description: This patent describes a germicidal toothbrush holder. It inherently involves a housing to contain an object (toothbrush) and a germicidal function.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This reference is highly relevant to Claim 1. It discloses a housing with an interior cavity for an object (toothbrush) and a germicidal function. The "first end wall," "sidewall," and "second end wall" elements are likely present in some form in a toothbrush holder. The "at least one germicidal light source disposed within the interior cavity" could be present if it uses UV light for sanitization.
  • Claim 11 & 18: The specific reflective interior surfaces of Claim 11 and the curved structure of Claim 18 would require a detailed comparison with the internal design of the toothbrush holder, which is not fully apparent from the title alone. However, the concept of directing germicidal light within a cavity for sanitization is certainly present.

3. US5023460A

• Full Citation: US5023460A - Toothbrush sanitizer
• Publication Date: 1991-06-11
• Brief Description: This patent describes a toothbrush sanitizer, similar in concept to US4806770A, implying a housing and a sanitizing mechanism for an object.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: As with US4806770A, this is highly relevant to Claim 1. It likely features a housing, an interior cavity for a toothbrush (object with a sanitizing surface), and a germicidal light source.
  • Claim 11 & 18: Similar to the previous toothbrush holder, detailed analysis of the internal reflective surfaces and specific housing structures would be needed for a precise anticipation assessment of Claims 11 and 18.

4. US6656424B1

• Full Citation: US6656424B1 - Ultraviolet area sterilizer and method of area sterilization using ultraviolet radiation
• Publication Date: 2003-12-02
• Brief Description: This patent broadly covers an ultraviolet (UV) area sterilizer and method. While not specifically a door opening device, it discloses the core technology of using UV radiation for sterilization within an area, which could be relevant to the germicidal light source aspect.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This patent generally anticipates the "at least one germicidal light source disposed within the interior cavity, wherein the germicidal light source provides germicidal light into the interior cavity" element across all claims. However, it may not directly anticipate the specific housing configurations "configured to accept the object" or the detailed reflective surfaces, as it describes "area sterilization" rather than a specific object-enclosing apparatus. The novelty of 12296061 might lie in the precise structural arrangement around a "point-of-contact surface."

5. US6911177B2

• Full Citation: US6911177B2 - Ultraviolet area sterilizer and method of area sterilization using ultraviolet radiation
• Publication Date: 2005-06-28
• Brief Description: This is a continuation patent of US6656424B1, also focusing on UV area sterilization.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: Similar to its parent patent, this reference anticipates the use of germicidal UV light for sterilization. Its relevance to the specific housing structures for a "point-of-contact surface" in Claims 1, 11, and 18 would depend on whether the area sterilization apparatus described could also be "configured to accept the object" in a similar manner.

6. US20060243762A1

• Full Citation: US20060243762A1 - Controllable door handle sanitizer system and method
• Publication Date: 2006-11-02
• Brief Description: This patent application is highly relevant as it describes a "controllable door handle sanitizer system and method." This directly addresses the subject matter of US12296061.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This patent application is a very strong candidate for anticipating all independent claims of US12296061. It likely discloses a housing around a door handle (object), an interior cavity, end walls, and sidewalls, and a germicidal light source. The "controllable" aspect also relates to the system claims in US12296061 (not included in the independent claims provided but often a dependent feature). A detailed comparison of the specific structural elements, such as the reflective surfaces of Claim 11 and the curved structure of Claim 18, would be crucial.

7. US20080023497A1

• Full Citation: US20080023497A1 - Elongated nozzle configured for use with automated dispensers such as door handle sprayers and the like
• Publication Date: 2008-01-31
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an elongated nozzle for automated dispensers, including door handle sprayers. While it focuses on chemical sanitization via spraying, it pertains to sanitizing door handles and may imply a housing for such a nozzle.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This might anticipate the general concept of a housing "configured to accept the object" (door handle) for sanitization. However, it's focused on a sprayer, not explicitly a germicidal light source as required by Claim 1. If the nozzle assembly itself creates an interior cavity and uses walls, then parts of the structural definition might overlap.
  • Claim 11 & 18: Less likely to anticipate the specific UV reflective features of Claim 11 or the curved structure of Claim 18, given its focus on spraying mechanisms.

8. US7175807B1

• Full Citation: US7175807B1 - Sterilization of gripping surfaces
• Publication Date: 2007-02-13
• Brief Description: This patent describes the "sterilization of gripping surfaces," which directly relates to door handles and other points of contact.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This is highly relevant prior art. It likely discloses an apparatus with a housing, interior cavity, and germicidal light for sterilizing gripping surfaces. A thorough comparison would be needed to determine if the specific structural elements described in Claims 1, 11, and 18 (e.g., reflective surfaces, curved end walls) are present or implicitly disclosed.

9. US20100051641A1

• Full Citation: US20100051641A1 - Controllable door handle sanitizer
• Publication Date: 2010-03-04
• Brief Description: This patent application, similar to US20060243762A1, describes a "controllable door handle sanitizer."
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This is another very strong candidate for anticipating all independent claims. It directly addresses the sanitization of door handles with a controllable system, likely involving a housing and a sanitizing agent (potentially germicidal light). A detailed review of its figures and description would be necessary to assess anticipation of the specific structural features in Claims 1, 11, and 18.

10. US20110174992A1

• Full Citation: US20110174992A1 - Irradiation system for door handle
• Publication Date: 2011-07-21
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an "irradiation system for door handle," directly implying the use of radiation (likely UV) for sanitizing door handles.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This reference is highly relevant and likely anticipates the core elements of all independent claims, particularly the use of germicidal light within a system for a door handle. The specifics of the housing, walls, and reflective surfaces would need to be compared in detail to determine full anticipation.

11. US7989779B1

• Full Citation: US7989779B1 - Universal door handle sanitizer device
• Publication Date: 2011-08-02
• Brief Description: This patent describes a "universal door handle sanitizer device," indicating a device designed for broad application to door handles for sanitization.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This is extremely relevant prior art. A "universal door handle sanitizer device" almost certainly includes a housing designed to accept a door handle and a sanitizing mechanism. The details of the sanitizing agent and the internal structure would need to be thoroughly examined against the specific wording of Claims 1, 11, and 18, especially regarding the germicidal light source and the reflective properties of the interior surfaces.

12. US20120176241A1

• Full Citation: US20120176241A1 - Door Handle Sterilizer
• Publication Date: 2012-07-12
• Brief Description: This patent application is titled "Door Handle Sterilizer," making it directly pertinent to the subject matter.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This is another highly relevant piece of prior art. It likely discloses a housing, an interior cavity for a door handle, and a sterilization mechanism (presumably UV light). A detailed comparison is needed to determine the extent to which it anticipates the specific structural features of Claims 1, 11, and 18.

13. US20120305804A1

• Full Citation: US20120305804A1 - Doorknob sterilization apparatus
• Publication Date: 2012-12-06
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a "Doorknob sterilization apparatus," directly addressing the sanitization of doorknobs.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1, 11, & 18: This is exceptionally relevant prior art. It very likely includes a housing, an interior cavity for a doorknob, and a sterilization method, most probably using germicidal light. The specific configurations of the walls, openings, and reflective surfaces within this apparatus would require close examination to determine anticipation of the independent claims of US12296061.

14. US20180085481A1

• Full Citation: US20180085481A1 - System and apparatus for sanitizing a door opening device or other point of contact
• Publication Date: 2018-03-29
• Brief Description: This patent application has an identical title to US12296061 and shares the same priority date of 2011-03-23. This is a continuation or divisional application of the same family.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is not prior art in the sense of anticipating the invention of US12296061 because it is part of the same patent family and shares the same priority date. It represents a different stage of the same underlying invention. Its inclusion here as a citation likely indicates its familial relationship rather than a true prior art reference under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Note on Claim Analysis:
For a definitive determination of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, a full claim-by-claim comparison with the complete text and drawings of each cited prior art patent would be necessary. The analysis above provides a high-level assessment based on the titles and brief descriptions. The prior art references that explicitly mention "door handle sanitizer," "doorknob sterilization," or "irradiation system for door handle" (e.g., US20060243762A1, US20100051641A1, US20110174992A1, US7989779B1, US20120176241A1, US20120305804A1) are particularly strong candidates for anticipating at least some aspects of the independent claims of US12296061. The toothbrush sanitizers also provide strong general anticipation for the concept of a germicidal light within a housing for an object.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 12296061 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the independent claims (Claims 1, 11, and 18) of US Patent 12296061 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) as of the priority date of March 23, 2011. The motivation for combining these references is rooted in the known desire to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of sanitization processes, particularly for high-touch surfaces.

Primary Reference for Obviousness: DE102008063887A1

Reference: DE102008063887A1 (Dorma Gmbh + Co. Kg), titled "Window or door, has fitting with manually operated element e.g. door handle, and UV radiation sources formed for bactericidal UV irradiation of manually operated element and arranged at wing element," published on July 1, 2010.

Analysis of DE102008063887A1:
DE102008063887A1 explicitly teaches a fitting for a manually operated element, such as a door handle, equipped with UV radiation sources for bactericidal UV irradiation. This directly addresses the core concept of sanitizing a door handle using germicidal UV light. Inherent in the disclosure of a "fitting" arranged for irradiation of a door handle are the following elements, as understood by a POSA:

• Housing defining an interior cavity configured to accept the object (door handle) with a sanitizing surface. The "fitting" functions as a housing that surrounds or partially encloses the door handle, creating an interior space (cavity) for the handle.
• At least one germicidal light source disposed within the interior cavity, providing germicidal light. The reference explicitly states "UV radiation sources formed for bactericidal UV irradiation" which are arranged within or at the fitting to irradiate the door handle.
• Housing structure: Any practical "fitting" or housing configured to surround a door handle for irradiation would necessarily comprise structural elements akin to a "first end wall," a "sidewall," and a "second end wall" with an "opening" for user access to the handle. The "posterior" end would be proximate to the door/wall, and the "anterior" end would be where a user accesses the handle, as defined in US12296061B2's description.

Therefore, DE102008063887A1 provides a strong foundation for rendering the independent claims obvious.

Obviousness of Claim 1

Claim 1: An apparatus comprising a housing with first and second end walls and a sidewall defining an interior cavity to accept an object with a sanitizing surface, and at least one germicidal light source within the cavity.

Obviousness Argument: Claim 1 is rendered obvious by DE102008063887A1 alone. As discussed, the "fitting" of DE102008063887A1 constitutes a housing that defines an interior cavity around a door handle (the object with a sanitizing surface). The "UV radiation sources" are the germicidal light sources disposed within this cavity. The structural components of a housing (end walls and sidewalls) and an opening for access are inherent design choices for such a "fitting" to enclose and sanitize a door handle. A POSA would understand that a structure configured to irradiate a door handle would include these basic containment and access elements.

Obviousness of Claim 11

Claim 11: An apparatus comprising a housing with a posterior wall, a sidewall, and an anterior wall defining an interior cavity, and at least one germicidal light source within, where the posterior wall interior surface, the anterior wall interior surface, and the sidewall interior surface are UV reflective and configured to reflect germicidal light toward the object.

Obviousness Argument: Claim 11 is rendered obvious by combining DE102008063887A1 with the well-known principle of using reflective surfaces in UV sterilization applications, as exemplified by prior art such as US6656424B1 (Uvas, Llc), titled "Ultraviolet area sterilizer and method of area sterilization using ultraviolet radiation," published December 2, 2003.

Motivation to Combine: A POSA, seeking to improve the efficiency and efficacy of the door handle sanitization system taught by DE102008063887A1, would be motivated to incorporate UV reflective surfaces. It is a fundamental engineering principle in UV disinfection to use reflective materials or coatings on the interior surfaces of a sterilization chamber to maximize the amount of UV radiation reaching the target object and reduce energy waste. This principle is explicitly recognized in the description of US12296061B2, which states that reflective surfaces "may increase the efficiency and efficacy of the sources of a sanitizing agent."

US6656424B1, for instance, discloses an ultraviolet area sterilizer that includes reflective surfaces to optimize UV exposure. While US6656424B1 describes a general area sterilizer and not specifically a door handle sanitizer, the teaching of using reflective interior surfaces within a housing to enhance UV sterilization is directly applicable. Therefore, a POSA would find it obvious to apply the known benefit of UV reflective surfaces from general UV sterilization devices like US6656424B1 to the door handle sanitizing fitting of DE102008063887A1, thereby optimizing the germicidal light distribution towards the door handle.

Obviousness of Claim 18

Claim 18: An apparatus comprising a housing with a first end wall, a sidewall, and a second end wall (opposite the first) having a curved structure and defining an opening into the interior cavity, and at least one germicidal light source within.

Obviousness Argument: Claim 18 is rendered obvious by combining DE102008063887A1 with a prior art reference that teaches the use of curved structures for reflective surfaces in UV sanitization, such as US6656424B1 (Uvas, Llc), published December 2, 2003.

Motivation to Combine: To further enhance the sanitization coverage and efficiency of the door handle system disclosed in DE102008063887A1, a POSA would be motivated to use a curved structure for the second end wall (anterior end wall). The purpose of such a curved structure, especially when made reflective (as established in the argument for Claim 11), is to optimally reflect and direct germicidal light towards the object. US12296061B2 itself illustrates various anterior structures, including hemispherical, conical, or frustoconical domes, all designed to reflect radiation (Description, FIG. 1, FIG. 13, FIG. 14).

US6656424B1, in its disclosure of an ultraviolet area sterilizer, shows the use of various reflector shapes, including curved designs, to improve the distribution and focusing of UV light. It is a routine design choice for a POSA in the field of UV sanitation to select and implement specific shapes for reflective surfaces, including curved ones, to achieve desired light distribution and maximize irradiation of a target object within a confined space. Applying this known design principle from general UV sterilizers like US6656424B1 to the door handle fitting of DE102008063887A1 to optimize the reflection of germicidal light towards the handle would be an obvious modification.