Germicidal Systems and Apparatuses having Hollow Tumbling Chambers

• US 20130224086A1
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Xenex Healthcare Services, LLC
• Inventors: Stibich, Mark A., Stibich, Paul R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments

Abstract

Systems are provided which include a disinfection apparatus, a hollow chamber comprising an object entry port, and a means for tumbling objects placed inside the chamber. In some cases, the hollow chamber is configured such that a germicide projected from the disinfection apparatus is transmitted into an interior cavity of the chamber. In other cases, the hollow chamber may include an input port configured for coupling the chamber to the disinfection apparatus such that a germicide generated by the disinfection apparatus is transmitted into the hollow chamber via the input port when the chamber is coupled to the disinfection apparatus. In other cases, the disinfection apparatus may be disposed within the hollow chamber and configured to generate a germicide in the form of a plasma, ultraviolet light, a non-aqueous vapor, a non-aqueous liquid or a gas which is molecularly configured to deactivate or kill microorganisms.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a disinfection apparatus, wherein the disinfection apparatus is configured within the system to project a germicide into an ambient of a room in which the disinfection apparatus is arranged;

a hollow chamber configured and arranged relative to the disinfection apparatus such that the germicide projected into the ambient of the room from the disinfection apparatus is transmitted into an interior cavity of the hollow chamber; and

a means for providing tumbling action to objects placed inside the hollow chamber.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is arranged between approximately 2 feet and approximately 4 feet from a floor of a room in which the system is arranged.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber comprises ledges of different dimensions along walls of the interior cavity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is collapsible.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by a processor for varying operational parameters of the means for providing tumbling action while the disinfection apparatus is in operation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing tumbling action comprises a rotation motor, pneumatics or a vibrator.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing tumbling action comprises an electromechanical, hydraulic or rotational shaft.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfection apparatus is configured to project the germicide in a form of a mist, a gas, a vapor or a plasma.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfection apparatus is configured to project ultraviolet light as the germicide.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the hollow chamber comprises an optically transparent material for the ultraviolet light to permeate through.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber comprises perforations for the germicide to permeate through.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber comprises an antimicrobial material.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for automatically loading and unloading the hollow chamber.

32. The system claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is configured for suspension.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is spaced apart from the disinfection apparatus by less than approximately 5 feet.

2. (canceled)

15. A disinfection apparatus, comprising:

a hollow chamber with one or more closable ports for loading and unloading an interior cavity of the hollow chamber, wherein exterior sidewalk of the hollow chamber adjoining the one or more closable ports comprise unobstructed perforations and/or ultraviolet transparent material extending to the interior cavity, and wherein the disinfection apparatus is absent an enclosable housing about the hollow chamber;

a device disposed within the interior cavity of the hollow chamber which is configured to generate a germicide which is transmissible through the unobstructed perforations and/or ultraviolet transparent material; and

a means for causing objects placed inside the interior cavity to tumble within the interior cavity.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device is disposed within a wall of the interior cavity.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device is spaced apart from walls of the interior cavity.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device is one of a plurality of devices disposed within the interior cavity which is configured to generate a germicide within the interior cavity.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one of the plurality of devices is disposed within a wall of the interior cavity, and wherein another of the plurality of devices is spaced apart from walls of the interior cavity.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device is a discharge lamp configured to generate ultraviolet light.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for causing objects placed inside the interior cavity to tumble comprises a rotation motor, pneumatics or a vibrator.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for providing tumbling action comprises an electromechanical, hydraulic or rotational shaft.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the hollow chamber comprises an antimicrobial material.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for automatically loading and unloading the interior cavity.

34. The system of claim 15, wherein the hollow chamber comprises removable plugs in or over the perforations and/or the ultraviolet transparent material.

35. The system of claim 15, wherein device is configured to generate the germicide in a form of a liquid, gas, vapor or plasma.

25. A system, comprising:

a disinfection apparatus configured to generate and transmit ultraviolet light through an output port of the disinfection apparatus;

a chamber comprising;

a hollow interior;

a loading port for entry of objects into the hollow interior; and

an input port disposed along an exterior housing of the chamber and extending into the hollow interior, wherein the input port is configured for connecting to the output port of the disinfection apparatus such that ultraviolet light transmitted by the output port passes through the input port into the hollow interior when the chamber is connected to the disinfection apparatus; and

a means for tumbling objects placed inside the chamber.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for providing tumbling action comprises a rotation motor, pneumatics or a vibrator.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for providing tumbling action comprises an electromechanical, hydraulic or rotational shaft.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the hollow chamber comprises an antimicrobial material.

31. The system of claim 25, further comprising a means for automatically loading and unloading the hollow chamber.

26-27. -27. (canceled)

36. A system, comprising:

a device configured to generate a germicide;

a chamber with a closable loading port and an immovable interior surface for supporting objects placed within the chamber through the closable loading port; and

a pneumatic means for causing objects placed upon the immovable interior surface to tumble within an interior cavity of the chamber, wherein the system is configured such that germicide generated by the device is transmitted into the interior cavity.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the chamber comprises perforations and/or optically transparent material extending from the exterior surface of the chamber to the interior cavity.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the device is arranged exterior to the chamber.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the device is arranged within the interior cavity.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the chamber comprises an input port configured for connecting to an output port of the device such that germicide generated by the device is transmitted from the output port and through the input port when the chamber is connected to the device.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the device is configured to generate the germicide in a form of a liquid, gas, vapor or plasma.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the device is configured to generate ultraviolet light.