Patent Application
20120199514
Although energy efficient, the new compact fluorescent lamps widely in use today can be environmentally unsafe, since many of these lamps contain hazardous substances, such as mercury vapor, powdered chemical debris, and specially treated glass. Thus, breakage of the bulbs of compact fluorescent lamps break could present a danger to individuals charged with cleaning and collection of the remnants of the breakage, e.g. glass fragments, powdered chemical, mercury residue, etc. Appropriate collection devices and protective storage containers for housing such potentially hazardous material are necessary to ensure for human safety. Vacuuming or sweeping glass fragments of bulbs from broken compact fluorescent lamps will cause settled mercury particles from the bulb to become airborne. Mercury vapor is harmful to humans, and especially children. As a result, there is currently no effective collection system for retrieving debris from broken compact fluorescent lamps and no storage system to safely contain this debris for transport and eventual disposal.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a broken compact fluorescent lamp collection and storage system which results in the effective and efficient collection of glass fragments and other debris and residue from a broken bulb from a compact fluorescent lamp and the safe storage of these fragments, debris and residue for transport and disposal.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a broken compact fluorescent lamp collection and storage system which utilizes a reuseable glass fragment and debris collector comprising a roller element with an adhesive surface to retrieve glass fragments, debris and residue, and an air-tight enclosure specifically configured to store the contaminated roller element for transport and appropriate disposal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a broken compact fluorescent lamp collection and storage system which traps and retrieves mercury particles with minimal agitation and prevents the particles from being redistributed into the atmosphere.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a broken compact fluorescent lamp collection and storage system which utilizes a reuseable glass fragment, mercury residue and debris collector having a handle and a frame within which a disposable roller element with an adhesive surface is mounted. Glass fragments, debris and mercury residue are collected on the adhesive surface on the roller element, which is removed from the frame after use. A fresh, replacement roller element is then inserted into the frame. The system also includes an airtight enclosure into which the dirty removeable roller element is placed for ultimate transport and disposal.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The broken compact fluorescent lamp collection and storage system of the present invention comprises glass fragment and debris collector 2 and airtight enclosure 20. Collector 2 comprises handle 4 extending from frame 8 having lateral support arms 10 and 12. Roller element 6 comprises support spindle 14 which extends through the roller element. Spindle 14 comprises end tabs 16 and 18. As seen in
Roller element 6 has an outer adhesive surface 7 capable of attaching and adhering to glass fragments 26 and powdery substances, mercury residue, and other debris 28 which would result from the breakage of the broken bulb from a compact fluorescent lamp. By running adhesive roller 2 manually over the surface areas containing the remnants of the breakage, broken glass fragments, mercury residue and other debris will be picked up by roller element 6. The dirty, contaminated roller element 6 can then easily be detached from frame 8.
In this manner, collector 2 and its removeable roller element 6, is simply and safely utilized to retrieve glass fragments, airborne mercury residue, and debris due to the breakage of the bulb of compact fluorescent lamp, from a variety of surfaces, including carpeting, hardwood floors, tile, countertops, furniture, clothing, etc. In addition, both collector 2 and container 20 can be manufactured in different sizes to allow for ease and versatility in decontaminating these surfaces.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/462,389 filed on Feb. 3, 2011.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61462389 | Feb 2011 | US |
