ANTI-GERMICIDAL AND/OR ANTIMICROBIAL APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AND/OR ELIMINATING GERMS AND/OR BACTERIA FROM THE SOLES OF FOOTWEAR AND METHOD FOR USE

• US 20100104470A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colin Adam Mccabe
• Original Assignee: Colin Adam Mccabe
• Inventors: McCabe, Colin Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present invention relates an apparatus that reduces and/or eliminates germs and/or bacteria from the soles of a person'"'"'s footwear, and an associated method of use. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a person can step onto and stand on the exemplary apparatus to have germs and/or bacteria reduced and/or eliminated from the soles of his or her footwear through the use of anti-germicidal and/or antimicrobial radiation and/or light. An exemplary apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be configured so that when a person stands on a top portion, the person'"'"'s footwear sinks to a bottom portion that is substantially transparent, displacing substantially opaque gel so that at least one of the soles of the person'"'"'s footwear is exposed to the anti-germicidal and/or antimicrobial radiation and/or light source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for at least one of reducing or eliminating at least one of germs or bacteria from at least one sole of a footwear of a subject, comprising:

a housing; and

a first particular part located within or coupled to the housing and including at least one radiation source, wherein the at least one radiation source is exposed to irradiate the at least one sole when the subject applies force on the apparatus, and wherein the at least one radiation source is configured to emit at least one of an anti-germicidal radiation or an antimicrobial radiation.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation is at least one of an ultra-violet light or radiation.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a second particular part located at or near a top section of the housing, wherein the second particular part includes (i) a top portion, (ii) a bottom portion, and (iii) a gel disposed therebetween.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the bottom portion is at least substantially transparent.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the gel is at least substantially opaque.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the top portion sinks to the bottom portion so as to displace the gel under the subject'"'"'s footwear when the subject steps onto the top portion.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one radiation source is configured to automatically initiate an emission of the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation after a predetermined amount of time passes from a time when the subject applies force on the second particular part.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation source is configured to initiate an emission of the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation upon receiving a manual input from the subject.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation source is configured to emit the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation until a signal to stop is received thereby.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein the signal is based upon at least one of a time or an indication from a sensor provided in or coupled to the housing.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein the sensor is configured to (i) detect a level of pathogens residing on the soles of the subject'"'"'s footwear, and (ii) provide the indication when a threshold level has been reached indicating the level.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation source is at least one of a radiation cone, UV light bulb or LED.

13. A method for at least one of reducing or eliminating at least one of germs or bacteria from at least one sole of a footwear of a subject, comprising:

a subject applying force on an apparatus including at least one radiation source; and

the at least one radiation source emitting at least one of an anti-germicidal radiation or an antimicrobial radiation, wherein the apparatus is structured so that the at least one sole is exposed to the radiation.

14. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising automatically initiating an emission of the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation after a predetermined amount of time passes from a time when the subject applies force on the apparatus.

15. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising initiating an emission of the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation upon receiving a manual input from the subject.

16. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising stopping the emission of the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation when a signal to stop is received by the at least one radiation source.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the signal is based upon at least one of time or an indication from a sensor.

18. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising the sensor (i) detecting a level of pathogens residing on the at least one sole, and (ii) providing the indication when a threshold level has been reached indicating the level.

19. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising a timer providing the signal to stop after a predetermined amount of time passes from a time when the emission of the at least one of the anti-germicidal radiation or the antimicrobial radiation is initiated.

20. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising generating the signal to stop when at least one of a malfunction of at least one part of the apparatus is detected or a need for maintenance of at least one part of the apparatus is detected.