Patent Application
20220288254
Physical contact represents a viable transmission path for many harmful bacterial and viral contaminants. Indirect contact through intermediate surfaces can be mitigated through frequent cleaning of surfaces prone to contact from multiple people in a short time, such as handrails, doorknobs, elevator buttons, and the like. Chemical disinfectants are one effective means to keeping commonly touched surfaces free of transmittable disease, however can be labor intensive. Radiation from certain light sources may also be effective, however the radiation can also be harmful to humans, and thus imposes overhead to contain radiation.
A light-based sterilization source directs a blue light at a bathroom fixture, surface or region for eliminating harmful viral or bacterial contaminants or other pathogens. The blue light is outside the range of harmful UV light while capable delivering an effective decontaminating, antimicrobial light source for eradication of pathogenic microorganisms, including SARS CoV-2. Control and projection structures determine usage patterns and events indicative of usage and/or contact. Based on detected usage, blue light is directed from a source to an irradiated target surface for decontamination.
Transmission of pathogens has long been known to occur by touch, from person to person, and indirectly, through surfaces contaminated by a contagious person and then touched by another. Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that high touch surfaces may be managed by regular cleaning and/or hand sterilization by users. Substantial resources are deployed for pursuing a regular cleaning cycle and ensuring timely refilling of hand dispensers of alcohol gel. Unfortunately, conventional approaches suffer from the shortcoming that they depend on diligent execution, and still allow for periods of contagion depending on how long the pathogens remain viable on the high touch surface. Accordingly, configurations herein substantially overcome the shortcomings of conventional adherence to rigorous surface cleaning by providing an irradiating light source directed to a high touch surface for automatic, immediate sterilization and pathogen removal resulting from specific selection of the wavelength of the irradiating light. A further advantage is the benign nature of the irradiating light, being in the blue spectrum of wavelength (around 400-470 nm) that removes it from the harmful UV spectrum.
The disclosed approach employs an irradiation device including a light source disposed for irradiating a bathroom or fixture surface for sterilization. A system for sterilization of contaminated surfaces using the irradiation device includes a blue light source having a wavelength outside a harmful spectrum such as the UV (ultraviolet) spectrum.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Depicted below is an example of various configurations of the antimicrobial light generation device, referred to as a “Flushometer.” Several views and arrangements are shown; other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art by slight variations to the form factor and electrical circuit as shown.
Referring to
In the example of
In contrast to conventional approaches, the blue light source has a wavelength between 400-470 nm, whereas ultraviolet (UV) light in conventional approaches has a wavelength around 200-300 nm. The blue light exhibits a particular effectiveness against pathogenic organisms at a wavelength substantially around 405 nm, as discussed further below. Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of electromagnetic radiation commonly acknowledged to have a wavelength from 10 nm to 400 nm. The blue light is in the visible spectrum that exhibits only nominal, non-harmful radiation. While UV light in general may remain an effective sterilization medium, it typically requires shielding for protection from the UV radiation.
Upon invocation based on the sensed position of the toilet seat and/or lid, the light source 20 is energized for irradiating the fixture surface with a far UV light source having a wavelength selected based on eradication of surface pathogens. This effectively defines a balance between effective mitigation of pathogens using a light source safe for direct or indirect exposure to humans.
Upon detection of usage, the light source activates for a duration based on an expected use of the region for hygienic care and a time sufficient to irradiate the fixture surface. In other words, an affirmative user action to commence a hygienic care usage occurs at the beginning of use. A duration of irradiation extends for a reasonable duration of usage, followed by sufficient time to mitigate, sterilize and/or kill pathogens. Alternatively duration may distinguish the end of termination for bathroom use, such as turning off a faucet. However, as the light source 20 draws little energy, activating the light source 20 during the usage period, as opposed to only following the usage period, does not achieve substantial efficiency gains. A typical irradiation cycle can eliminate about 90% of pathogens in about 10 min., 95% around 30 min., and about 99.9% after an hour of irradiation.
A power supply 62 connects to the light source 20 via an activation circuit 64 for activating the light source 20 in response to the detected hygienic care usage upon input from the sensor 30. Batteries are sufficient for powering an LED element or array used for the light source 20, however alternate power and light fixtures may be employed.
In
The light source 20 receives an input from a flow sensor 230 on the discharge vessel for detecting the fluidic flow 222, and activates the light source 20 using any suitable power source as disclosed above. The fixture 350 disposes the light source 20 within the discharge vessel 352 adjacent a termination and discharge end of the discharge vessel, and activates the light source towards the discharge end from an interior of the discharge vessel 352 for irradiating the immediate area, including a sink surface and hands of a user. The flow sensor 20 is shown in communication with an interior of the discharge vessel 352 for detecting the water flow 222, however could be disposed alternately for detecting usage, such as in a supply line or detecting touch or position of a handle 226 for operating the fixture 350.
While the system and methods defined herein have been particularly shown and described with references to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/160,348, filed Mar. 12, 2021, entitled “SMART IMMEDIATE SAFE TOILET DISINFECTION METHOD, DEVICES, AND SYSTEM,” and U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/241,009, filed Sep. 6, 2021, entitled “ANTIMICROBIAL LIGHT EMITTING FAUCETS AND SHOWER HEADS,” both incorporated herein by reference in entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63160348 | Mar 2021 | US | |
| 63241009 | Jan 0001 | US |
