Patent Application
20130004367
The present invention relates generally to sanitization devices and methods. More particularly this invention relates to a device for sterilizing electronic devices and their accessories using ultraviolet radiation and potentially ozone.
It has long been known that germs are spread by, among other things, hand to hand contact. Hence, there's been much in the literature recently concerning the washing of hands in order to prevent the spreading of the common cold as well as other microbes. Further, it has long been known that toothbrushes can be a source of the spreading of germs as well. Recently, it has been discovered that bacteria continue to live on objects used by individuals. Similarly disease causing germs can live on many surfaces and therefore can be a vector for the spread of disease.
The various embodiment sanitization units may include a sanitization container comprising a sanitizer base and a sanitizer cover. In the various embodiments, the sanitization units may include “passive,” sanitizer bases that reflect ultraviolet (UV) but do not themselves generate UV energy or “active” sanitizer bases that comprise their own UV sources and do not solely rely on reflection of UV energy from an active UV cover.
According to an embodiment, a sanitization unit with a passive sanitizer base may include a base with a reflective surface and a support that is capable of supporting physical objects on the base with the base unit hingedly, removably or fixedly attached to the base in a manner to create a space between the reflective surface and the support. An ultraviolet (UV) light source may be attached to the interior surface of the cover which also has a reflective surface near the UV light source. UV radiation from the UV light source located in the cover is directed downward toward the base and the base may reflect UV energy from the reflective surface in the base and reach different angles and sides of objects placed on the base support during the sanitization process.
According to the various embodiments, a sanitization unit with an active sanitizer base may include a UV light source in the base. The UV light source may be attached to the base on or near the reflective surface and under the support. UV light emitted from the UV light source may reflect from the reflective surface to reach different angles and sides of an object that is being sanitized and which is placed on the base support. According to an embodiment, a sanitization unit with an active sanitizer base may include UV light sources in both the base and the cover. According to the various embodiments, both the base and the cover may include a reflective surface.
According to the various embodiments, power from a power source may reach the sanitization unit through a power cord, and or onboard rechargeable batteries. According to an embodiment, the sanitization unit may include one power cord attached to either the base or the cover. According to a further embodiment, more than one power cord may be used to transmit power from a power source to either the cover and the base or both. In still another embodiment, both the base and cover may have rechargeable batteries that power UV sources in each.
According to the various embodiments, the base and cover of a sanitization container may be hindegly or removably attached to one another.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.
The various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the claims.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
The method and apparatus of the various embodiments provide a convenient, compact, and easy to use sanitization unit which may be used to sanitize objects, such as keyboard or computing devices, from multiple directions and angles. According to the various embodiments, the sanitization unit may include reflective surfaces placed in the base or cover of a sanitization unit to allow UV radiation emitted from a UV light source to reflect off the reflectors and reach different sides and angles of an object that is placed inside the sanitization unit.
According to the various embodiments, the sanitization unit may include an ultraviolet (UV) light source particularly in the 200 to 300 nm wavelength range. In an embodiment, the UV light source has a 254 nm wavelength. This UV wavelength range has long been known for its germicidal and sanitization effects achieved by direct radiation. It is also well known that UV radiation in the 200 nm range can produce small quantities of ozone from oxygen in the atmosphere. Ozone, in sufficient concentrations is known to have significant germicidal and sanitization effects. Further, ozone, as a gas, is able to reach certain places and crevices such as beneath the keys and in crevices and out-of-sight surfaces that might exist on an object where direct UV radiation might not reach.
According to the various embodiments, the UV light source may be mounted within a sanitization unit such that the sanitization unit may expose UV radiation to different surfaces of objects placed inside of the unit. In an embodiment, the interior of the sanitization unit may be equipped with a UV light source and reflecting surface such that it directly and indirectly emits or reflects UV radiation to reach all parts of the object.
The UV light of the sanitization unit may be mounted in a number of configurations. Different UV light mounting configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,331, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. For example, where an object, such as a keyboard or other input devices, is vertical or nearly so, as in the case of certain ATM machines and keypad access devices, the sanitization unit may be disposed vertically. The UV lamp may be a ring type lamp, a tubular UV lamp source that may be suspended horizontally in the sanitization container, a series of UV lamps that may be disposed around the perimeter of the sanitization container thereby directing radiation inward to the surfaces that are contained vertically or horizontally within the sanitization container.
The sanitization unit may be constructed to stand vertically for storage purposes. Examples of vertical designs of the sanitization unit are disclosed in the U.S. Design Pat. No. D616,563, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The sanitization unit may also be constructed to stand horizontally. For example, the sanitization unit may be disposed horizontally and receive objects that may be placed on the support of the base. In this instance, a UV light source could be disposed horizontally within the sanitization unit with UV radiation shining downward or upward. In an exemplary embodiment, UV light sources may be mounted in a portion of the sanitization unit which is closed over or placed over the object (i.e., sanitization unit cover) allowing UV light to shine downward over any exposed surfaces where microbes might exist. Alternatively, the UV radiation could come from both above and below of an object (i.e., from both base and cover of a sanitization unit) to maximize the exposed surfaces thereby having fewer surfaces within shadows, consequently maximizing the surfaces that are exposed to the sterilizing, germicidal UV rays.
According to the various embodiments, the sanitization unit may include a sanitization chamber comprising a base which may be hingedly or removably attached to a cover. Placing the cover on the base may create a space/chamber inside of the sanitization unit in which objects may be contained for UV radiation. This will allow the sanitization unit to safely sanitize objects placed inside of the unit without exposing the outside environment to UV radiation.
In an embodiment, the sanitization unit further comprises a sanitization switch which is biased in the “off” position. When an object is placed inside of the sanitization unit and the unit is closed by placing the cover on top of the base (or bringing the base and cover together in a vertical sanitization unit), the sanitization switch may be engaged, either manually or automatically, and the UV radiation light source may be turned on. When the sanitization unit is opened (i.e., cover is removed), the UV radiation is immediately turned “off” as soon as the cover is removed or lifted.
In an embodiment, the sanitization unit may include a safety switch which, when engaged, may activate the UV light. Such a safety switch may be engaged automatically when the cover of the sanitization unit is closed. In this scenario, the safety switch may be designed in a way that the weight of the cover can turn “on” the UV light. Similarly, the safety switch may be disengaged automatically when the cover is lifted. Thus, once the weight of the cover is lifted from the switch, the UV light may turn “off.” Consequently, the UV light only turns on when the cover is on. This prevents exposure of the surrounding environment to UV radiation.
According to the various embodiments, a timer/power circuit for the UV light source may also be included. The timing/power circuit is activated as soon as the cover of the sanitization container is placed over the base and the sanitization switch is engaged. The timer may allow the UV light source to remain “on” for a predetermined amount of time. This time is consistent with substantial sanitization of the enclosed object. When the predetermined amount of time has expired, the UV light source may be turned “off” thereby saving both power as well as prolonging the life of the UV light source(s). Further, this limited time illumination minimizes any chemical breakdown of plastics that might occur due to UV radiation. In the event that the cover is lifted, the timer may be reset and, upon closing of the cover, the sanitization time period may begin again. According to the various embodiments, the length of time the timer may be activated to turn “on” and “off” the UV light source may be based on user preference. For example, a user may set the timer to allow for different UV illumination times keyed to the pathogens that a user may want to destroy.
According to the various embodiments, the sanitization unit may include an indicator light whereby, when sterilizing, the indicator light is lit. When sanitization is not in progress, such as when the sanitization lamp has burned out, the indicator light may not be lit. When the indicator light is “off,” the user may be informed that sanitization process is not in progress and may attend to the problem accordingly. Further, the indicator light may glow in different shades or colors noting when the unit is charged sufficiently for the next UV sanitizing cycle to begin.
In an embodiment as shown in
The reflective surface 140 may be constructed from any material that may allow or facilitate reflection of UV radiation. In an exemplary embodiment, the reflective surface 140 may be constructed using metals, such as aluminum, although this is not meant as a limitation. Aluminum reflective surfaces 140 may allow for reflection of UV radiation from the active UV cover to different sides of an object placed inside of the sanitization unit.
The base 110 may also include a support 130, in this case, illustrated in the form of a screen that may, removably, fixedly or hingedly, be placed in the base in a manner to cover the reflective surface 140. Objects that are to be sanitized may be placed inside of the sanitization chamber on top of the support 130. The support 130 may be a structure that may allow transmission of UV light, such as a screen (as shown in
The sanitization unit may be connected to an external power source via a power cord 150. In an embodiment, the sanitization container may include an internal power source (not shown), such as rechargeable batteries. When the sanitization unit includes an internal power source, such as batteries, the sanitization unit may not include a power cord 150, but may have a charging unit instead (not shown). Alternatively, the sanitization unit may include both an internal power source and power cord 150, such that when the internal power source is exhausted, the sanitization unit may use power from an external power source to operate and recharge the internal power source.
The sanitization unit 100 may receive power from a typical wall outlet via a power cord 150, which may be connected to an interlocking sanitization power switch 155. In an embodiment, power for the UV light source 160 (shown in phantom) may be received through the power cord 150 via the cover 120. The UV light source 160 may be mounted in the cover so as to direct UV illumination in a generally downward direction when the cover is oriented horizontally. The sanitization power switch 155 may be biased in the “off” position so that when the cover 120 is removed from the base 110 the UV light source 160 is turned “off.” Conversely, when the cover 120 is placed over the base 110, sanitization power switch 155 is “on” and power is provided to the lamps 160 and the lamps 160 may generate UV light (i.e., illumination). Further, when all UV light sources 160 are lit, an indicator light 165 may also light showing anyone viewing the apparatus that UV radiation is being generated by the UV light source 160 contained in the active UV sanitization container 120. It should be noted that the position of the indicator light 165 is entirely arbitrary and can be placed anywhere on the apparatus to provide satisfactory convenient viewing by the user.
Referring now to
In an embodiment as illustrated in
The base 110 may include a reflective surface 140 and a support 130. The support 130 may be placed on the base 110 over the reflective surface 140 in a manner to create a first space 170. When the cover 120 is placed on the base 110, a second space 180 may be created. Objects may be placed on the support 130 in the sanitization unit and contained in the second space 180 when the cover 120 is closed. It is understood that the size or dimensions of the second space 180 can vary.
In a further embodiment, the sanitization unit 100 may include a protective cover 190 to protect the UV light source 160. For example, the protective cover 190 may prevent contact between the UV light source 160 and an object that may be placed in the sanitization unit. The protective barrier 190 may be in a form of a partition, screen or other UV transmissive material in the manner such as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, when the sanitization container 100 includes an active sanitizer base, the cover 120 may or may not include a UV light source 160. In such a scenario, the cover 120 may also include a reflective surface (not shown) to allow reflection of UV radiations to sanitize different sides of an object placed on the support 130 of the sanitization container 100.
The sanitization container 100 with an active sanitizer base may be controlled by a sanitization power switch 155. When in the “on” position, the UV light source 160 may be activated to sanitize objects placed in the sanitization unit. In an embodiment, the sanitization power switch 155 may only be functional when safety switches 220 are engaged. The safety switches 220 may be located on the base 110 in such a manner that when the cover 120 is placed on the base 110 to close the sanitization container 100 the safety switches 220 may be engaged. This provides a safety mechanism by which UV light sources 160 may only be activated when the cover 120 is placed on the base 110. When the cover 120 is off (i.e., when the UV light sources are exposed to the environment) and the safety switches 220 are disengaged, UV light sources may not be activated. The safety switches 220 may operate mechanically or electronically. For example, the safety switches 220 may include push down switches which may be engaged (i.e., pushed down) when the cover 120 is placed on top of them. The safety switches 220 may also include a laser sensor mechanism which may require a receptor sensor in the cover 120 to be placed near the laser sensors in the base 110 before they are engaged. Mechanism and types of mechanical and electronic switches are well known and may be included in the various embodiments. In an alternative embodiment, the safety switches 220 may be located on the cover 120.
In an embodiment, the active cover and active base may be separate controlled by their own power switches. Further, the placement of the safety switches is for illustrative purposes only. The number of switches and their location can be varied to afford the appropriate safety.
In an embodiment, the sanitization container 100 with an active sanitizer base may include power cords 150 which may supply power to both the UV light sources in the base 110 and the cover 120. Accordingly, more than one power cord 155 may be present. Alternatively, only one power cord 150 may supply power to either the base 110 or cover 120 UV light sources 160 and power is transferred from one unit to the other through mechanisms other than a power cord 150. For example, when each of the base 110 and cover 120 require power to activate UV light sources 160, one power cord 150 may be directed to the base 110. In such a scenario, power received in the base 110 may be conducted to the UV light source 160 located in the cover 120 through electrodes in the cover 120 that may come into contact with electrodes in the base 110 when the sanitization container 100 is closed by placing the cover 120 on top of the base 110.
It should also be noted that a surprising additional benefit from having both an active cover and and an active base is that the amount of the UV illumination is delivered in a much more effective fashion and more quickly. Thus, effective amounts of UV illumination required to kill harmful bacteria and viruses is delivered more effectively. For example, energy from the UV lamp 160 and the corresponding UV lamp in the active cover will provide illumination to the reflective surfaces of the opposite structure. For example, UV illumination from the active cover 120 will provide illumination to objects being sanitize that are placed on support 130. However, in addition, the illumination from the active cover 120 will be reflected from the reflecting surface 140 in the active base unit. Thus, energy will not be wasted, but rather will be delivered to all locations on the surface of objects being sanitized. Similarly, UV from the UV lamp 160 in the active base will be reflected off the reflecting surface in the active cover 122 again impinge on objects resting on support 130 from all different angles. Thus, the unit does not waste any UV energy and is therefore more effective.
Referring now to
Protective barrier 190 may comprise, without limitation, the screen, a UV transparent material such as a plastic, quartz, or other material known in the art to transmit significant amounts of UV radiation.
As illustrated in
It should be noted that the embodiments noted in
The sanitization units of the various embodiments may include one or more UV light sources disposed in the cover and/or base in various arrangements, and the number and/or arrangement of UV light sources may be different in the cover and the base. In the various embodiments the one or more UV light sources may be any type light source configured to output UV radiation during operation, such as LEDs, mercury vapor bulbs, florescent bulbs, etc.
The sanitization unit of the various embodiments may be used for sanitization of different objects. For example, the sanitization unit of the various embodiments may be used to sanitize medical instruments, electronic devices (e.g., keyboards or input devices), laboratory instruments, or any other tools, instruments, infant objects, eating utensils, or any other objects that that may require sanitization. Dimensions of the unit may be variable and are driven by the size of the objects intended to be sanitized. Thus, no specific dimensions are provided herein, but will be appreciated as being flexible by those of ordinary skill in the art.
UV illumination time is driven by the amount of UV illumination required for destruction of certain pathogens. Quantities of UV illumination in micro-watt-seconds per square centimeter are well known. Thus, wattage and UV sources and time of illumination may be varied to deliver the necessary dosage.
It will also be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed and that the examples and embodiments described herein are in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art of the present invention will recognize that other embodiments using the concepts described herein are also possible. Further, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/503,964 entitled “Sanitization Method and Apparatus” and filed Jul. 1, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61503964 | Jul 2011 | US |
