Patent Application
20220287517
The present disclosure generally relates to fabric warming containers and, more particularly, for fabric warming containers with ultraviolet (UV) lights.
Warm and sterile towels are not only desirable to have after bathing or showering, but may be required in a medical environment. It is well known that a warmed towel serves to offset the chilling effect due to evaporation of water from the body after showering, even at normal room temperatures.
With the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other pathogens, cleanliness is of the utmost importance. Sterilizing a towel or fabric is the best way to ensure that there are no pathogens on a surface that is going to be in direct bodily contact. If a towel contaminated with a dangerous virus or bacteria came in contact with several individuals, the potential for the spread of disease is greatly increased. The soothing feeling that a warm towel provides after a bath or shower is positive reinforcement to a user to continue using warmed towels on a regular basis. By combining a sterilizing feature, a user will benefit from a clean sterile towel free of dangerous bacteria and other pathogens. Unfortunately, at this time there are no devices that both warm and disinfect towels that are adaptable to home or commercial use.
It may be beneficial to warm and sanitize towels or other fabrics without utilizing a bulky appliance or other large enclosure.
In an embodiment, a fabric warming container includes a base portion and one or more sidewall portions coupled to and extending vertically from the base portion along at least a portion of the periphery of the base portion. The one or more sidewall portions may include an interior surface. One or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources may be positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. The one or more sidewall portions may form an opening opposite to the base portion above a cavity defined by the one or more sidewall portions and the base portion.
One or more of the following features may be included. One or more heating elements may be positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. One or more reflector portions may be positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. The cavity defined by the one or more sidewall portions and the base portion may be configured to receive one or more fabrics. The one or more sidewall portions may include a single, continuous sidewall portion extending completely around the periphery of the base portion. The one or more sidewall portions may include a plurality of sidewall portions spaced apart from one another along at least a portion of the periphery of the base portion. The one or more sidewall portions may include one or more gaps in the one or more sidewall portions extending from the opening along the sidewall portion to the base portion. A timer component may be configured to control the one or more UV light sources. One or more shelves may be positioned within the cavity defined by the one or more sidewall portions. The fabric warming container may be configured to be coupled to an article of furniture, built into a wall, and/or mounted onto a wall.
According to another embodiment, a fabric warming container includes a base portion and a pair of sidewall portions coupled to and extending vertically from the base portion on opposing sides of the base portion. Each sidewall portion may include an interior surface. One or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources may be positioned on the interior surface of each sidewall portion. The pair of sidewall portions may form a pair of openings positioned on opposing sides of the base portion.
One or more of the following features may be included. One or more heating elements may be positioned on the interior surface of at least one of the sidewall portions. One or more reflector portions may be positioned on the interior surface of at least one of the sidewall portions. A timer component may be configured to control the one or more UV light sources. One or more shelves may be positioned between the pair of sidewall portions. The fabric warming container may be configured to be coupled to an article of furniture, built into a wall, and/or mounted onto a wall.
According to yet another embodiment, fabric warming container includes a base portion and one or more sidewall portions coupled to and extending vertically from the base portion along at least a portion of the periphery of the base portion. The one or more sidewall portions may include an interior surface. One or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources may be positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. The one or more sidewall portions and the base portion may define a cavity within the fabric warming container. The fabric warming container may be configured to be coupled to an article of furniture, built into a wall, and/or mounted onto a wall.
One or more of the following features may be included. One or more heating elements may be positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. One or more shelves may be positioned within the cavity defined by the one or more sidewall portions. One or more reflector portions may be positioned on the interior surface of at least one of the sidewall portions.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
In general, consistent with the present disclosure, a fabric warming container is provided. For example, and referring generally to
Referring to
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include one or more sidewall portions coupled to and extending vertically from the base portion along at least a portion of the periphery of the base portion. For example, one or more sidewall portions (e.g., sidewall portion 14) may be coupled to the base portion (e.g., base portion 12) along at least a portion of the periphery of the base portion. In some implementations, the one or more sidewall portions (e.g., sidewall portion 14) may extend generally vertically (e.g., perpendicular to a horizontal plane formed by base portion 12) from base portion 12. In this manner, the one or more sidewall portions (e.g., sidewall portion 14) may form an opening (e.g., opening 16) opposite to the base portion (e.g., base portion 12) above a cavity (e.g., cavity 18) defined by the one or more sidewall portions (e.g., sidewall portion 14) and the base portion (e.g., base portion 12). In some implementations, the one or more sidewall portions may include an exterior surface and an interior surface. For example and in some implementations, the exterior surface of the one or more sidewall portions may include the surface of the sidewall portion(s) facing away from the base portion while the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions may include the surface of the sidewall portion(s) facing towards the base portion. While sidewall portion 14 may extend substantially vertically from base portion 12, it will be appreciated that sidewall portion 14 may extend in any direction from the at least a portion of the periphery of base portion 12.
In some implementations, the base portion and sidewall portions may be integrally formed and/or may define a unitary structure. For example, base portion 12 and sidewall portion 14 may be integrally formed as a single structure. However and in some implementations, base portion 12 and sidewall portion 14 may be formed of distinct materials or combination of materials. For example, base portion 12 may be formed from a first material or first group of materials while sidewall portion 14 may be formed from a second material or second group of materials. In one example, fabric warming container may be a fabric warming “basket” formed with a base portion configured to weigh the fabric warming container against the ground while the sidewall portion(s) may be formed from a weaving of materials in a “basket” structure. However, it will be appreciated that base portion 12 and sidewall portion 14 may be formed from any combination of materials in various configurations within the scope of the present disclosure.
In some implementations, the cavity defined by the one or more sidewall portions and the base portion may be configured to receive one or more fabrics. For example and as shown in at least
In some implementations, the one or more sidewall portions may include a single, continuous sidewall portion extending completely around the periphery of the base portion. Referring again to the examples of
In some implementations, the one or more sidewall portions may include one or more gaps in the one or more sidewall portions extending from the opening along the sidewall portion to the base portion. Referring also to the examples of
In some implementations, the one or more sidewall portions may include a plurality of sidewall portions spaced apart from one another along at least a portion of the periphery of the base portion. For example, while the above examples have included a single sidewall portion, it will be appreciated that fabric warming container 10 may include a plurality of sidewall portions spaced apart from one another (e.g., a varying distances, equivalent distances, etc.) within the scope of the present disclosure.
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. As is known in the art, UV light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that can sterilize exposed areas. Referring again to the example of
In some implementations, UV light source 22 may include an elongated, tubular or cylindrical UV light assembly extending along and/or within sidewall portion 14. However, it will be appreciated that UV light source 22 may include discrete UV light sources positioned along and/or within sidewall portion 14. It will also be appreciated that the discrete UV light sources may be configured to operate independently of one another. For example, a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) strips or segments may be used as UV light sources within the scope of the present disclosure and that each LED strip may be used independently of any other LED strip.
In some implementations, UV light source 22 may include one or more internal reflector portions or assemblies configured to reflect UV light in particular directions and/or away from UV light source 22. For example, fabric warming container 10 may include a plurality of UV light sources (e.g., UV light sources 22) positioned along sidewall portion 14 and configured to emit UV light within the cavity defined by the base portion and the one or more sidewall portions. In this example, UV light emitted by each of the UV light sources may be received by another UV light source. Accordingly, UV light source 22 may include one or more internal reflector portions or assemblies configured to reflect UV light received by an emitting UV light source away from the receiving UV light source. In this manner, UV light emitted and received by a plurality of UV light sources may be reflected away from UV light source 22 and back toward a fabric or other article placed within fabric warming container 10.
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include one or more reflector portions positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. Referring also to the examples of
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include one or more heating elements positioned on the interior surface of the one or more sidewall portions. Referring also to the examples of
While the examples of
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include a timer component configured to control the one or more UV light sources. For example, fabric warming container 10 may provide safety controls for the warming and/or sanitizing of fabrics. In some implementations, the timer component may include a default maximum amount of “on” time. For example, the timer component may be configured to activate the one or more UV light sources and may be configured to automatically shut off the one or more UV light sources after a threshold amount of time. The threshold amount of time may be user-defined or a default, pre-programmed value.
In some implementations, the timer component may be configured to activate the one or more heating elements and/or may be configured to automatically shut off the one or more heating elements after a threshold amount of time. In some implementations, the threshold amount of time may be different for the one or more heating elements versus the one or more UV light sources.
In some implementations, a power source for fabric warming container 10 may be provided by an external connection or an integral power source within fabric warming container 10. For example and in some implementations, a power source for the one or more UV light sources, one or more heating elements, etc. may include a power cable coupled to the base portion. In some implementations, fabric warming container 10 may be configured to be electrically coupled to a power source by hardwiring (e.g., a fixed electrical connection to a stationary power source), a removable plug, and/or connection to a battery or other rechargeable power supply. In some implementations, fabric warming container 10 may include an external power switch configured to switch power on and off to the one or more UV light sources, one or more heating elements, etc. In some implementations, fabric warming container 10 may include a first power switch for the one or more UV light sources and a second power switch for the one or more heating elements. While an example with two power switches has been provided, it will be appreciated that any number of power switches may be used within the scope of the present disclosure.
For example, fabric warming container 10 may include one or more power switches or controls to activate one or more heating elements to warm a fabric and one or more power switches or controls to activate one or more UV light sources to sanitize the fabric. In this manner, fabric warming container 10 may be configured (e.g., by operation of the one or more power switches or controls) to warm and/or sanitize a fabric or other article placed within fabric warming container 10. In some implementations, the one or more power switches or controls may activate the one or more heating elements and the one or more UV light sources together.
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include a pair of sidewall portions coupled to and extending vertically from the base portion on opposing sides of the base portion. Referring also to the example of
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources positioned on the interior surface of each sidewall portion. Referring again to the example of
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may include one or more shelves positioned within the cavity of fabric warming container. Referring also to the example of
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may be configured to be one or more of: coupled to an article of furniture, built into a wall, and mounted onto a wall. For example and in some implementations, fabric warming container 10 may be configured to be coupled to an article of furniture (e.g., a dresser, a chair, a couch, a desk, as part of a shelving unit, or any other type or article of furniture or fixture). In this manner, fabric warming container 10 may be coupled to or built-into an article of furniture or other fixture to provide access to warmed and sanitized fabrics or other articles.
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may be configured to be built into a wall. Referring again to the examples of
In some implementations, the fabric warming container may be configured to be mounted onto a wall. Referring again to the example of
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
A number of implementations have been described. Having thus described the disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.
