Station For Disinfecting Publicly-Used Equipment

• US 20110073774A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yorba Linda Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Yorba Linda Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Taylor, Thomas L., Hilt, Pat
• Granted Patent: US 8,536,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/492.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs

Abstract

A device for disinfecting publicly-used equipment includes a plurality of reflective units disposed along the interior of each wall of the device. Each of the reflective units can include a reflective back section and at least three reflective sections disposed about the reflective back section. UV lamps can be disposed to extend along the walls, and at partially disposed adjacent to a one or more reflective back sections of the reflective units. The UV lamps together with the reflective units collectively direct sufficient UV light on the equipment such that the equipment can be disinfected. The walls and ceiling of the device define a tunnel into which the equipment to be disinfected is inserted. Optionally, the device can include a door to prevent children and others from entering the tunnel while the UV lamps are illuminated.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of preventing accidental exposure to UV light when disinfecting a shopping cart, comprising:

providing a tunnel sized and dimensioned to receive the shopping cart;

providing the tunnel with a UV light source; and

providing electronics that are capable of preventing operation of the UV light source upon detection of movement within the tunnel.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing the tunnel with a first and a second reflective unit,

wherein each reflective unit has a reflective back section and at least three reflective sections disposed off normal with respect to the back section, and

wherein the first and second reflective units are disposed on first and second walls of the tunnel, respectively.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a door that is capable of inhibiting entry of a user into the tunnel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electronics are capable of preventing operation of the light source until the door is closed to at least a defined threshold.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the door comprises a window configured to filter UV light emitted by the first UV light source.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a second UV light source.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second UV light source is disposed perpendicularly with respect to the first UV light source.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a sensor capable of detecting when the shopping cart is fully inserted within the tunnel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronics are further capable of preventing operation of the UV light source if the shopping cart is not fully inserted within the tunnel.