Ultraviolet sanitation device

• US 20050022844A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F., Pouliot, Joseph L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/283 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/405 Machines using UV-lamps, IR-lamps, ultrasound or plasma cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4097 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Exhaust-air treatment, e.g. air purification; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/042 the loading means being an endless belt or an auger

Abstract

A sanitation device includes a mobile body, a surface cleaning component, and a source of UV radiation. The surface cleaning component and the source of UV radiation are mounted to the mobile body, which is configured to travel over a surface. The surface cleaning component is configured to engage the surface and the source of UV radiation is configured to direct UV radiation to the surface.

Claims

1. A sanitization device comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface; and

a source of UV radiation mounted to the mobile body and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface at a dosage of less than 60 mW/cm².

2. The device of claim 1 including a surface cleaning component mounted to the mobile body and configured to engage the surface on which the mobile body travels.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cleaning component is selected from a group consisting of a rotatable scrubber, a rotatable sweeper, and a squeegee.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the source is further configured to direct the UV radiation onto the cleaning component.

5. The device of claim 1 including:

a tank mounted to the mobile body; and

a second source of UV radiation configured to direct UV radiation into the tank.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nm.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a power consumption of the source automatically varies in accordance with a speed at which the mobile body travels.

8. The device of claim 1 including a shroud covering sides of the source that do not face the surface.

9. The device of claim 1 including a squeegee, wherein the source is positioned to a rear side of the squeegee.

10. A method of sanitizing a surface comprising steps of:

a) providing a sanitization device including a source of UV radiation;

b) moving the sanitization device across a surface; and

c) exposing the surface to UV radiation produced by the source at a dosage of less than 60 mW/cm².

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nm.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the sanitization device includes a mobile body configured to travel across the surface; and

the source is mounted to the mobile body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein sanitization device includes a cleaning component mounted to the mobile body selected from a group consisting of a rotatable scrubber, a rotatable sweeper, and a squeegee.

14. The method of claim 13 including exposing a surface of the cleaning component to the UV radiation produced by the source.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the sanitation device includes a tank and a second source of UV radiation; and

the method includes exposing an interior of the tank to UV radiation produced by the second source.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the surface is selected from a group consisting of a hard floor, carpet, a road, and synthetic grass.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the moving step b) is performed by hand.

18. The method of claim 17, including containing the source in a housing having a handle.

19. A sanitization device comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;

a surface cleaning component mounted to the mobile body and configured to engage the surface; and

a source of UV radiation mounted to the mobile body and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the cleaning component is selected from a group consisting of a rotatable scrubber, a rotatable sweeper, and a squeegee.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nm.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the source is configured to direct a dosage of UV radiation to the surface of less than 60 mW/cm².

23. The device of claim 19 including a squeegee, wherein the source is positioned to a rear side of a squeegee.

24. A method of sanitizing a surface comprising steps of:

a) providing a sanitization device including a mobile body configured to travel across a surface, a surface cleaning component mounted to the mobile body and configured to engage the surface, and a source of UV radiation mounted to the mobile body;

b) moving the sanitization device across the surface; and

c) exposing the surface to UV radiation produced by the source.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nm.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the moving step b) includes moving the source at a rate that exposes the surface to a dosage of UV radiation of less than 60 mW/cm² during the exposing step c).

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the surface cleaning component is selected from a group consisting of a rotatable scrubber, a rotatable sweeper, and a squeegee.

28. The method of claim 27 including exposing a surface of the cleaning component to the UV radiation produced by the source.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the sanitation device includes a tank and a second source of UV radiation; and

the method includes exposing an interior of the tank to UV radiation produced by the second source.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the surface is selected from a group consisting of a hard floor, a carpet, a road, and synthetic grass.

31. A sanitizing device comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation contained in the housing and positioned to transmit UV radiation through the opening; and

a sensor configured to detect when the source is within a predetermined distance from a surface.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein operation of the source is disabled while the sensor indicates that source is outside of the predetermined distance from the surface.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nanometers (nm).

34. The device of claim 31, wherein the housing includes a handle, whereby the device is configured for handheld operation.

35. A method of sanitizing a cleaning component of a mobile surface cleaner configured for movement across a surface comprising steps of:

a) positioning a source of UV radiation adjacent the cleaning component; and

b) exposing the cleaning component to the UV radiation.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nm.

37. The method of claim 35 including a mobile body, wherein the cleaning component and the source are mounted to the mobile body, the cleaning component configured for engagement with the surface on which the mobile body travels.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the cleaning component is selected from a group consisting of a rotatable scrubber, a rotatable sweeper, and a squeegee.