Countertop decontaminating device

• US 20100097013A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mathew Inskeep
• Original Assignee: Mathew Inskeep
• Inventors: Inskeep, Mathew
• Granted Patent: US 8,581,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/360
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs

Abstract

The present invention disinfects countertop surfaces using high intensity ultraviolet energy causing photolysis. The light is directed to the working area of an office countertop or the countertop used in food preparation such as in a residential or commercial kitchen. A motion detector provides a mechanism for disabling the light should a pet or individual enter an area during the disinfection process. The device further includes a fluorescent lamp allowing dual functionality wherein the device can provide conventional countertop lighting or disinfection lighting.

Claims

1. A countertop ultraviolet disinfection device comprising:

a housing with an interior;

at least one ultraviolet light;

a source of electrical power, said ultraviolet light electrically connected to said source of electrical power, said ultraviolet lamp secured within said housing;

a directional lens cover secured to said housing and enclosing said ultraviolet light; and

an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit including at least one motion detector, said at least one motion detector disconnecting said ultraviolet light from said source of electrical power upon detection of a moving object in a vicinity of said countertop ultraviolet disinfection device.

2. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 1 including at least one fluorescent light secured within said housing.

3. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 1 wherein said at least one motion detector is a passive infrared motion detector.

4. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 3 wherein said at least one passive motion detector is a pyroelectric detector.

5. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 2 wherein said at least one motion detector does not disconnect said fluorescent light from said source of electrical power.

6. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet light produces about 0.1 joules/cm² of power.

7. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 1 including an automatic timer electrical shutoff connected to said at least on ultraviolet light, said automatic timer disconnecting said at least one ultraviolet light from said source of electrical power after a predetermined period of time.

8. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 3 including two motion sensors positioned on said housing, said motion sensors positioned to detect the motion of an animal in the vicinity of said at least one ultraviolet light.

9. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 1 wherein said directions lens cover dissipates said light from said at least one ultraviolet light without affecting the ability of said at least one ultraviolet light to disinfect an area.

10. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 2 wherein said directions lens cover dissipates said light from said at least one ultraviolet light and said at least one fluorescent light without affecting the ability of said at least one ultraviolet light to disinfect an area and the ability of said fluorescent light to illuminate said area.

11. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 1 wherein said source of electrical power is at least one battery.

12. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 11 wherein said at least one battery is located within said housing.

13. The countertop ultraviolet disinfection device of claim 7 including at least one fluorescent light secured within said housing and wherein said automatic timer electrical shutoff does not disconnect said fluorescent light from said source of electrical power.