APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING THE INSIDE OF A CONTAINER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for sterilizing an inside of a container comprising:
- a housing having a first part and a second part that define an interior, the first part being movable relative to the second part between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second parts are sealed, the housing including a first end portion that closes off a first end of the housing and is attached to the first part such that the first end portion and the first part move in unison between the open and closed positions, the housing also including a second end portion that closes off a second end of the housing and is attached to the second part and remains in a fixed position in the open and closed positions;
a UV bulb disposed horizontally within the interior and spaced above a floor of the second part;
a first retaining member for holding a neck portion of the container, the first retaining member being disposed about the UV bulb at one end thereof and having a plurality of concentric slots for accommodating different sized neck portions to permit the UV bulb to be received within an interior of the container;
a support disposed along the second part, wherein the first retaining member and support are configured to hold the container in an least substantially horizontal orientation within the interior; and
a power source operatively connected to the UV bulb and to a controller that provides control over the activation of the UV bulb.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing containers, such as plastic water bottles employs ultra violet (UV) light sterilization technology in a portable fashion. The apparatus is a standalone unit that is intended for residential use, is portable, and is specifically configured to receive and treat multiple sized bottles without additional add-ons. The apparatus positions and includes features to hold the bottle in a horizontal position within the housing of the apparatus such that the horizontally oriented UV bulb is disposed within the inside of the bottle.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for sterilizing an inside of a container comprising:
-
a housing having a first part and a second part that define an interior, the first part being movable relative to the second part between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second parts are sealed, the housing including a first end portion that closes off a first end of the housing and is attached to the first part such that the first end portion and the first part move in unison between the open and closed positions, the housing also including a second end portion that closes off a second end of the housing and is attached to the second part and remains in a fixed position in the open and closed positions; a UV bulb disposed horizontally within the interior and spaced above a floor of the second part; a first retaining member for holding a neck portion of the container, the first retaining member being disposed about the UV bulb at one end thereof and having a plurality of concentric slots for accommodating different sized neck portions to permit the UV bulb to be received within an interior of the container; a support disposed along the second part, wherein the first retaining member and support are configured to hold the container in an least substantially horizontal orientation within the interior; and a power source operatively connected to the UV bulb and to a controller that provides control over the activation of the UV bulb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus for sterilizing an inside of a container comprising:
-
a housing having a first part and a second part that define an interior, the first part being movable relative to the second part between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second parts are sealed, the housing including a first end portion that closes off a first end of the housing and is attached to the first part such that the first end portion and the first part move in unison between the open and closed positions, the housing also including a second end portion that closes off a second end of the housing and is attached to the second part and remains in a fixed position in the open and closed positions; a UV bulb disposed horizontally within the interior and spaced above a floor of the second part; a first retaining member for holding a neck portion of the container, the first retaining member being disposed about the UV bulb at one end thereof and having a plurality of concentric slots for accommodating different sized neck portions to permit the UV bulb to be received within an interior of the container, wherein the first retaining member comprises a plurality of concentric seal members formed of a resilient material, with one concentric slot being defined a pair of adjacent seal members; a support disposed along the second part, wherein the first retaining member and support are configured to hold the container in an least substantially horizontal orientation within the interior, wherein the support comprises a pivotable riser that is pivotally attached to the second section, wherein a top edge of the support comprises an arcuate edge having a concave shape; and a power source operatively connected to the UV bulb and to a controller that provides control over the activation of the UV bulb; wherein the support is movable and can be locked in different positions in which a top edge of the support is at different heights, the different positions of the support corresponding to the different concentric slots such that when the bottle is in one concentric slot, there is a corresponding position for the support to ensure that the bottle remains in a horizontal orientation.
-
Specification