METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISINFECTING AND/OR DEODORIZING AN ARTICLE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for disinfecting and/or deodorizing an article comprising:
- a cabinet defining a compartment configured to receive the article;
a regenerative dryer positioned with respect to the compartment and configured to dehydrate air flowing into an ozone generator, the dryer including;
a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet located downstream from the air inlet, the housing defining a chamber, anda dehydrating agent disposed within the chamber for absorbing moisture laden in the air, the dehydrating agent being operatively regenerated by heat for vaporizing and removing moisture in the dehydrating agent when saturated with the moisture;
the ozone generator in communication with the dryer and positioned with respect to the compartment, the ozone generator being configured to selectively generate ozone, the generated ozone being introduced into the compartment;
an ozone conversion device positioned with respect to the compartment and configured to selectively convert ozone back to oxygen; and
a controller configured to selectively activate the dryer, ozone generator and ozone conversion device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for disinfecting and/or deodorizing an article comprises a cabinet defining a compartment configured to receive the article. A regenerative dryer is positioned with respect to the compartment and is configured to dehydrate air flowing into an ozone generator. The ozone generator is in communication with the dryer and is positioned with respect to the compartment. The ozone generator is configured to selectively generate ozone. The generated ozone is introduced into the compartment. An ozone conversion device is positioned with respect to the compartment and is configured to selectively convert ozone back to oxygen. A controller is configured to selectively activate the dryer, ozone generator and ozone conversion device.
17 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for disinfecting and/or deodorizing an article comprising:
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a cabinet defining a compartment configured to receive the article; a regenerative dryer positioned with respect to the compartment and configured to dehydrate air flowing into an ozone generator, the dryer including; a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet located downstream from the air inlet, the housing defining a chamber, and a dehydrating agent disposed within the chamber for absorbing moisture laden in the air, the dehydrating agent being operatively regenerated by heat for vaporizing and removing moisture in the dehydrating agent when saturated with the moisture; the ozone generator in communication with the dryer and positioned with respect to the compartment, the ozone generator being configured to selectively generate ozone, the generated ozone being introduced into the compartment; an ozone conversion device positioned with respect to the compartment and configured to selectively convert ozone back to oxygen; and a controller configured to selectively activate the dryer, ozone generator and ozone conversion device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for disinfecting and/or deodorizing an article comprising:
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a cabinet defining a compartment configured to receive the article; a regenerative dryer positioned with respect to the compartment and configured to dehydrate air flowing into the compartment; an ozone generator in communication with the dryer and positioned with respect to the compartment, the ozone generator being configured to selectively generate ozone, the generated ozone being introduced into the compartment; an ozone conversion device positioned with respect to the compartment and configured to selectively convert ozone to oxygen, the ozone conversion device including a fan and a housing for housing at least one of a heater and a catalyst, wherein in a first airflow mode, the heater is de-energized and the fan circulates generated ozone through the compartment, the ozone airflow bypassing the catalyst, wherein in a second airflow mode, the heater is energized and the fan directs the heated ozone airflow to the catalyst for converting ozone back to oxygen; and a controller configured to selectively activate the dryer, ozone generator and ozone conversion device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for disinfecting and/or deodorizing an article comprising:
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providing an appliance including a cabinet defining a compartment; placing the article within the compartment; activating an ozone generator positioned with respect to the compartment to selectively generate ozone; introducing the generated ozone into the compartment to treat the article; ramping the level of ozone within the compartment to a first predetermined ozone concentration value; detecting a rate of decline of the level of ozone within the compartment from the first ozone concentration value to a second predetermined ozone concentration value with a sensing device positioned with respect to the compartment; comparing the sensed rate of decline to a predetermined rate of decline; cycling the ozone generator between the first ozone concentration value and the second ozone concentration value if the sensed rate of decline is less than the predetermined rate of decline. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification