Patent Application
20210308299
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a disinfecting and/or sterilizing device that can be used with a variety of flat objects (e.g., currency, credit cards, documents). The presently disclosed subject matter further includes methods of making and using the device.
The spread of viruses and other harmful microorganisms presents a challenge to protecting individuals in a society where people live and work in close proximity to each other. For example, credit cards, currency, identification cards, and the like are frequently used on a daily basis, such as in stores, restaurants, at work, and the like. The items are commonly handled by the owner, as well as mutual credit card machines, retail employees, and the like. As a result, viruses and other harmful microorganisms can be easily spread from person to person. Current methods of sterilizing and disinfecting objects include the use of liquid chemicals and similar disinfecting sprays. However, these methods are unsuitable for portable, flat objects such as currency, credit cards, documents, and the like. Particularly, hard plastic items (such as credit cards) must be wetted and dried between uses, which can be cumbersome and time consuming. Fibrous materials such as currency are typically disinfected by washing, which is laborious and inefficient. As a result, the risk of cross-contamination during use of everyday objects remains prevalent. It would therefore be beneficial to provide a device capable of quickly and easily disinfecting and/or sterilizing flat and portable objects.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a device for sterilizing and/or disinfecting an object. Particularly, the device comprises a housing and a plurality of ultraviolet bulbs positioned within the interior compartment of the housing, adjacent to the pathway. The housing is defined by a front face and an opposing rear face; a top face and an opposing bottom face; and a first side face and a second side face, wherein each side face includes a slot that provides access to the interior compartment. The housing further includes a pathway that extends from the first side face slot to the second side face slot within the interior compartment.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a plurality of ultraviolet bulbs positioned above and below the pathway.
In some embodiments, the external surface of each slot includes a shielding mechanism.
In some embodiments, the interior compartment includes a coating that at least partially blocks or reduces ultraviolet radiation at or adjacent to the slots.
In some embodiments, each ultraviolet bulb emits radiation with a wavelength of about 100-400 nanometers.
In some embodiments, each ultraviolet bulb emits UV-A light, UV-B light, UV-C light, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, each ultraviolet bulb has a wavelength sufficient to kill about 80-100 percent of one or more viruses, bacteria, molds, or fungi.
In some embodiments, at least one ultraviolet bulb is positioned above the pathway, below the pathway, or both.
In some embodiments, the plurality of ultraviolet bulbs are positioned in an arcuate pattern to at least partially surround the pathway on all sides.
In some embodiments, the plurality of bulbs include varying levels of ultraviolet light.
In some embodiments, the device further includes a plurality of rollers positioned directly above, below, or both above and below the pathway.
In some embodiments, the rollers are electromechanical rollers (e.g., including both electronic and mechanical components that can move during operation, such as an electric drive and/or actuator coupled with mechanical components that transmit electrical energy into mechanical motion).
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of decontaminating and/or sterilizing an object. Particularly, the method comprises positioning the object within a slot of a decontaminating or sterilizing device. The device comprises a housing defined by: a front face and an opposing rear face; a top face and an opposing bottom face; a first side face and a second side face, wherein each side face includes a slot that provides access to the interior compartment; and a pathway that extends from the first side face slot to the second side face slot within the interior compartment. The device further includes a plurality of ultraviolet bulbs positioned within the interior compartment of the housing. The method comprises passing the object along the pathway of the device interior compartment, wherein the object is exposed to the ultraviolet bulbs on all sides. The method includes removing the object from the opposing slot, wherein the object is decontaminated or sterilized on all sides.
In some embodiments, the object is passed along the pathway using one or more rollers positioned along the pathway.
In some embodiments, the object can pass from the slot on the first side face to the slot on the second side face and vice versa.
In some embodiments, the output profile of each ultraviolet bulb is varied as desired by the user. The “output profile” refers to the amount and/or intensity of the bulb output. The “output profile” can optionally also include the amount of time that the bulb is “on” (e.g., emitting UV light).
The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate some (but not all) embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.
The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.
As used herein, the term “about”, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/−0.1-20% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a device configured to sterilize and/or disinfect one or more flat objects, such as (but not limited to) credit cards, identification cards, papers, business cards, paper money, passports, and the like.
The term “disinfect” or “disinfecting” as used herein refers to the removal, inhibition, neutralization, and/or killing of microbial organisms on a surface. The term “sterilize” or “sterilizing” as used herein refers to the killing of all microbial organisms on a surface. It should be appreciated that the while the terms “sterilize” and “disinfect” have different scientific meanings, they are used interchangeably herein, as actual results of the presently disclosed subject matter can differ according to the nature of the targeted microorganism, the product being processed, and/or the methods used.
As set forth above, device 5 includes housing 10 that protects and contains the interior emitting bulbs. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, slots 20, 25 can extend the full length of side face 50, as shown in
Slots 20, 25 can be configured on side face 50 of the housing using any conventional method, such as (but not limited to) the use of laser cutting, thermoforming, etching, sharp instruments (e.g., blades and the like), and other similar methods.
The device housing is designed to maintain the functional elements of the device safely and effectively. For example, certain wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation are harmful to humans and animals, and exposure can cause sunburn and eventually skin cancer. Exposure to the naked eye is also known to lead to temporary or permanent vision impairment by damaging the retina of the eye. For this reason, input and exit slots 20, 25 can be designed to limit the amount of ultraviolet radiation that exits the device to the external environment. Thus, in some embodiments, the slots can include a flap, overhang, or other shielding mechanism 26 to protect the user from ultraviolet radiation, as shown in
Housing 10 can be constructed from any rigid or semi-rigid material. The term “rigid” refers to a material that is stiff, unyielding, and typically unable to substantially give way under pressure without breaking. The term “semi-rigid” refers to a material that is rigid to some degree but is not inflexible. Suitable rigid or semi-rigid materials can include (but are not limited to) metal (e.g., stainless steel, copper), plastic, ceramics, concrete, stone, wood, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, at least one material used to construct housing 10 can be impermeable to ultraviolet radiation, such as (but not limited to) stainless steel, chrome, and/or other metals. In other embodiments, the external surface of the housing can include a coating that is at least partially impermeable to ultraviolet radiation. In some embodiments, the coatings can be applied to at least a portion of the internal compartment (e.g., adjacent to the slots to reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation that escapes via the slots). Suitable ultraviolet radiation-impermeable coatings can include (but are not limited to) resin, urethane, epoxy, and the like. The term “impermeable” refers to a material through which UV light cannot pass through (e.g., at least about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 99, 99.9, or 100 percent of the UV light cannot pass through).
Housing 10 can have any desired length, width, and/or thickness. As shown in
Housing 10 can have any desired cross-sectional shape, such as rectangular, square, rounded, abstract and the like.
The disclosed housing can be constructed using any conventional method. For example, the housing can be formed via thermoforming, welding, and the like, as would be well known in the art.
As set forth above, the housing includes interior compartment 15 that comprise one or more bulbs capable of emitting a disinfecting and/or sterilizing material.
Bulbs 85 can comprise any UV light generating materials, such as (but not limited to) mercury bulbs, titanium dioxide, silver, copper, LED (light emitting diode) and the like. The term “bulb” therefore broadly refers to any device capable of generating UV light (e.g., LED). The UV bulbs are capable of producing at least one of UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C light wavelengths. The term “UV-A” refers to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from about 320 nm to about 400 nm and includes UV-A1 (from about 340 nm to about 400 nm) and UV-A2 (from about 320 nm to about 340 nm). The term “UV-B” refers to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from about 290 nm to about 320 nm. The term “UV-C” refers to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from about 200 nm to about 290 nm. Non-limiting examples of commercially available UV bulbs include non-xenon germicidal UV bulbs.
In some embodiments, the UV light is sufficient to kill and/or neutralize one or more harmful microorganisms. The harmful microorganisms can include (but are not limited to) bacteria (e.g., E. coli, septicaemia, tetanus, pneumonia, impetigo, tonsillitis, strep, legionella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, clostridium, and the like), viruses (e.g., coronavirus, influenza, Ebola, Marburg, rabies, HIV, and the like), molds (aspergillus, Trichoderma, Bipolaris, Chaetomium, Geotrichum, Alternaria, Penicillum, Memnoniella, Stachybotrys, and the like), fungi (Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis, Candidiasis, and the like), and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, about 50-100% of the microorganisms are killed or neutralized (e.g., at least/no more than about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 99, 99.9, or 100 percent).
Bulb 85 can be configured in any desired shape and/or size and is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in the Figures. For example, the bulbs can be cylindrically shaped, although any shape or array that provides sufficient exposure to an object as it passes through the compartment pathway can be included.
The disclosed bulbs can be powered using any conventional methods, such as the use of a power cord, power supply, and/or batteries.
Device 5 can include any number of bulbs 85, such as (but not limited to) about 2-20. Thus, the interior compartment of the disclosed device can include about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 bulbs. However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited and device 5 can include more or fewer bulbs than provided in the given range.
In some embodiments, interior surfaces of housing 10 can be coated with one or more materials that increase ultraviolet radiation reflection to enhance the effectiveness of the sterilization process. Suitable coatings can include, but are not limited to, aluminium, foil, mirrored surfaces, and the like. Thus, the coatings can increase the exposure of bulbs 50 by about 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, or 400 percent or more.
As shown in
For example, in some embodiments, it may be advantageous to include bulbs 85 in an arcuate pattern to surround at least a portion of the object to be sterilized when traveling along pathway 55, as shown in
Each bulb 85 housed within the interior compartment of device 5 can have about the same output profile. Alternatively, the output profile of bulbs 85 can be varied as desired by the user (e.g., consumer, designer, manufacturer). For example, the bulbs closest to slots 25, 20 can have the least amount of ultraviolet radiation emission to ensure that the smallest amount of radiation possible extends through the slots. Similarly, the bulbs positioned farthest from the slots (e.g., those towards the middle of the interior compartment) can have the highest amount of UV emission. It should therefore be appreciated that the bulbs can include any desired configuration, such as random arrangement, side-by-side arrangement, sequential arrangement, array arrangement, clustered arrangement, parallel arrangement, and the like.
In some embodiments, the interior compartment 15 can include one or more rollers 90 to secure and move the object along pathway 55. Rollers 90 can include any mechanism to facilitate movement of the object within the interior compartment of device 5. The rollers can therefore include wheels, guides, and the like that engage the object to guide it horizontally into and out of slots 20, 25. In some embodiments, rollers 85 can be electromechanical rollers. The rollers can be positioned adjacent to the input and exit slots, as shown in
Rollers 90 can be positioned above and below pathway 55, as illustrated in
The device can include any number of rollers, such as about 1-50 (e.g., at least/no more than about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50). However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited and the device can include greater than 50 rollers. It should be appreciated that rollers 90 can be configured in any size.
In use, an object to be decontaminated and/or sterilized by passing through the interior of device 5. The term “object” as used herein can refer to any object to be sterilized and/or disinfected using device 5. In some embodiments, object 100 is relatively flat, such as the credit card of
Object 100 is introduced into the interior compartment of the device through input slot 20 positioned on one side of the device as illustrated in
The object can pass through either direction of device 5, such as from inlet to exit slots or exit to inlet slots so long as the object proceeds completely through the interior compartment pathway in a single flow direction. In this way, movement of target object 100 is facilitated between two people handing the object (or different objects). For example, a credit can be passed through device 5 from the owner in a contaminated state. As the credit card exits the device, it has been decontaminated and/or sterilized such that the vendor can then run the clean credit card. After use, the vendor can again run the credit card through the device, decontaminating the object from any microorganisms that may be present after contact with the vendor and/or surrounding environment. The owner then reclaims the newly decontaminated and/or sterilized card as it exits the device slot and stores the card for later use.
Device 5 includes many benefits over prior art decontamination and/or sterilization methods. For example, the device allows rarely sterilized items, such as credit cards or paper money, to be easily decontaminated.
The disclosed device can easily slow or prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms, such as (but not limited to) bacterial infection, viruses (e.g., Influenza, COVID, etc.), fungi, mold, and the like.
Device 5 can be easily used by a wide variety of users, including children and the elderly.
The disclosed device can be safely used without harm to the user from excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Device 5 is simple, compact, and easy to use.
The device is available as a stand-alone device or can be integrated into a larger system, such as an ATM or debit/credit card reader.
Advantageously, the device can be used in a single direction (input to exit or exit to input) or both directions, completing the disinfecting/sterilization process in a single pass through the device.
The device is configurable without or with a feed roller assist system, depending on the particular object to be disinfected or sterilized.
The device uses no chemicals, so is cleaner and safer compared to other prior art devices.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/006,560 filed Apr. 7, 2020, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63006560 | Apr 2020 | US |
