The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1995
Stephen D Carter, Stone Mountain, GA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The apparatus of this invention can be used to disinfect a writing instrument used by a health care professional when working with a patient. The apparatus includes an absorbent material pad that has a breach formed, for example, with a slit or a series of slits extending entirely through the pad. The pad is soaked with disinfecting fluid, and a writing instrument is inserted through the breach in the pad to disinfect the writing instrument. To hold the pad in a fixed position, the apparatus includes a holder with first and second members that can be joined together or separated to allow insertion or removal of the pad. The first and second members of the holder define respective apertures that are aligned with the breach in the pad when the first and second members are joined together to enclose the pad. The holder is attached to a body that supports the holder at a sufficiently high level that the writing instrument, when inserted through the pad and the holder, will not be obstructed by the surface upon which the apparatus rests. The apparatus also includes several features to stabilize the apparatus and to minimize spillage or waste of the disinfecting fluid. In addition, the invention includes a related method.