Sanitizing and deodorizing apparatus

• US 3,877,152 A
• Filed: 10/03/1973
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dewitt Y. Gorman
• Original Assignee: Dewitt Y. Gorman
• Inventors: Gorman, Dewitt Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Jr., Carroll B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Application Number:
  US05/403,287
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 34/4,32,43,72,40,133 21/54R,74A,12R
• US Class Current: 34/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/36 Flow or velocity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/62 Stopping or disabling machine operation
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/26 Condition of the drying air, e.g. air humidity or temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

A new and improved apparatus for sanitizing the contents of an appliance, such as clothing, sheets, towels and other laundry while such laundry is being dried in a laundry drier, or the contents of other appliances, which can be used to modify an appliance to add the sanitizing feature quickly and economically. The apparatus once installed permits optional sanitizing of the laundry being dried without interfering with normal drying operations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting with a movable door of an appliance to modify the appliance to provide sanitizing and deodorizing of the contents of the appliance, comprising:

a. ultraviolet source means for irradiating the contents of the appliance with radiant energy to sanitize and deodorize such contents; and

b. a cover plate forming a chamber for receiving the ultraviolet light source means therein; and

c. a supporting bracket mounted in said cover plate for mounting said ultraviolet source means in said cover plate; and

said cover plate having an inlet therein and a filter screen at an outlet adjacent said ultraviolet source means for passage of air into the appliance so that ozone may be formed in the air which passes into the appliance to sanitize and deodorize the contents of the appliance.

2. a supporting bracket mounted in said cover plate for receiving said source means;

c. inlet chamber means mounted with said cover plate and having an inlet port formed therein for passage of air into the drier;

d. said source means comprising means for irradiating the incoming air to form zone therein;

e. outlet means formed in said cover plate adjacent the opening in the door of the drier for permitting entry of the ozone containing air into the drier;

f. sensor means mounted in said inlet port in said inlet chamber means for sensing stoppage of incoming air flow therethrough; and

g. means responsive to said sensor means for deenergizing said source means.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a laundry drier for drying laundry, and wherein:

said source means comprises means for irradiating the laundry in the drier with radiant energy to sanitize and deodorize the laundry.

4. A sanitizing apparatus for sanitizing and disinfecting laundry in a laundry drier which receives the laundry to be dried through a movable door formed therewith and wherein air is drawn into the drier for drying the laundry, comprising:

a. source means for irradiating the laundry in the drier with radiant energy to sanitize and deodorize the laundry;

b. means for mounting said source means with the movable door of the drier, said means for mounting comprising;

5. The structure of claim 4, further including:

safety switch means for de-energizing said source means when the movable door of the drier is open.

6. The structure of claim 4, wherein said source means comprises:

lamp means for forming ultraviolet light radiant energy.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein incoming air is drawn into the drier for drying the laundry and wherein said source means further includes:

electrostatic means for forming ozone in the incoming air to assist in sanitizing and deodorizing the laundry.

8. The structure of claim 7, further including:

safety switch means for de-energizing said electrostatic means when the movable door of the drier is open.

9. The structure of claim 4, further including:

screen means mounted in said outlet means for preventing undesirable particles from entering the dRier.

10. The structure of claim 4 wherein air is drawn into the drier for drying the laundry and said cover plate has an opening formed therein for passage of the air into the drier and further including:

electrostatic means mounted in said inlet chamber for forming ozone in the incoming air to assist in deodorizing and sanitizing the laundry.

11. The structure of claim 4, further including:

a. coin-operating switch means for energizing said source means on insertion of a coin therein.

12. The structure of claim 4, further including:

electrical circuit means for controlling the operation of said source means.