Hygiene Handle

The Hygiene Handle is a door handle with an integrated sanitizer dispenser that can be mounted on all doors, replacing the outer handle of a room. A proximity sensor registers the presence of a hand and then dispenses one dose of hand sanitizer, to ensure that all users of rooms like the shared employee lounge have sanitized hands and therefore minimize the risk of spreading infections.

In addition to the dispenser, the Hygiene Handle has an optional ‘restrictive mode’, by which an office manager can obligate that all users have sanitized their hands prior to entering the room. For this to work, we have severed the connection between the inner and outer door handle. The inner handle is always connected to the door lock, ensuring that in case of an emergency or technical malfunction the occupants can always leave the room. But if the restrictive mode is engaged the outer handle is disconnected from the door lock unless a clutch is closed. Just like the regular (open) mode, the user holds their hand near the proximity sensor and receives a dose of sanitizer. But also will the clutch be temporarily closed to allow the user to enter the room. The clutch then opens in order for the next user to restart the cycle. 

The Hygiene Handle is the result of a collaboration of five team members of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Prior to this final design, five preliminary concept designs were made. I worked on another proposal for a table with integrated HEPA filter to accomodate usage of shared tables for socializing while maintaining a safe distance and ensuring a safe environment.