Flexible article sterilizing mechanism

• US 5,245,845 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kew Import and Export Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kew Import and Export Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Langford, Terrence R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/954,979
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 8/158, 8/159, 68/18 R, 68/355, 68/207, 134/36, 134/37, 134/102.1, 134/102.2, 261/DIG. 42, 210/760, 422/28, 422/29, 422/30, 422/33, 422/113, 422/116, 422/186.07, 422/186.08, 422/186.10, 422/186.11, 422/186.12, 422/186.14, 422/292, 422/294, 422/295 , 422/296, 422/305
• US Class Current: 68/3.0SS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 11/00 Methods specially adapted for refuse disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075; disposal of medical waste B09B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/122 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 13/008 Devices specially adapted for cleaning contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 134/901 Contact lens

Abstract

A sterilizing mechanism for flexible material such as fabrics resulting in a waste material which is sanitary and disposable in traditional trash mechanisms without posing any biological hazards. The invention utilizes ozone in a bathing and agitating process to sterilize. An initial step utilizes detergent with ozone to further enhance the process. The resulting liquid bath is non-hazardous and is disposable through traditional means such as sewer disposal. In the preferred embodiment, the drum holding the contaminated material is pressurized and chilled to increase the effectiveness of the ozone in the sterilizing process.

Claims

1. A cleansing and sterilization mechanism comprising:

a) a drum being water sealed and having a sealable primary entry for deposit of flexible articles;

b) means for pressurizing said drum;

c) means for creating an ozone bath of gaseous ozone suspended in a liquid in said drum;

d) means for discharging liquid from said drum;

e) means for spinning said drum;

f) agitation means for agitating said ozone bath and said articles;

g) detergent adding means for depositing detergent into said drum; and

,

h) control means for,

1) directing the means for creating an ozone bath to create a first ozone bath,

2) causing said detergent adding means to deposit detergent into said drum,

3) directing said agitation means to agitate the detergent and said first ozone bath mixture,

4) causing said means for discharging to empty said detergent and ozone bath mixture from said drum,

5) directing the means for creating an ozone bath to create a second ozone bath,

6) causing said agitation means to agitate said second ozone bath, and,

7) simultaneously directing,

A) said means for discharging to empty liquid from said drum, and,

B) said means for spinning to spin said drum.

2. The cleansing and sterilization mechanism according to claim 1 further including a reservoir for holding said ozone bath and wherein said means for creating a ozone bath draws said bathing mixture from said reservoir.

3. The cleansing and sterilization mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said reservoir is sealed and pressurized.

4. The cleansing and sterilization mechanism according to claim 3 further including cooling means for chilling said reservoir.

5. A biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism comprising:

a) means for creating an ozone bath of a selected liquid and suspended ozone gas in a reservoir;

b) means for transferring said ozone bath to a drum containing biologically contaminated materials;

c) agitation means for mechanically agitating said ozone bath and said biologically contaminated material in said drum;

d) means for spinning said drum;

e) means for discharging liquid from said drum;

f) detergent adding means for depositing detergent into said drum; and

,

g) control means for,

1) directing the means for creating an ozone bath to create a first ozone bath in said drum,

2) causing said detergent adding means to deposit detergent into said drum,

3) directing said agitation means to agitate any contents of said drum,

4) causing said means for discharging to empty the detergent and ozone from said drum,

5) directing the means for creating an ozone bath to create a second ozone bath in said drum,

6) causing said agitation means to agitate said ozone bath, and,

7) simultaneously directing,

A) said means for discharging to empty liquid from said drum, and,

B) said means for spinning to spin said drum.

6. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said agitation means includes means for generating a sonic vibration in said ozone bath.

7. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 6 further including:

a) a primary entry for deposit of said material into said drum; and

,

b) means for operator sealing said primary entry.

8. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 7 further including means for pressurizing said drum.

9. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 8 further including cooling means for chilling said drum to a selected temperature.

10. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 9 further including a reservoir containing a bath mixture of liquid material with ozone gas dispersed therein and wherein said means for creating an ozone bath draws said bath mixture from said reservoir.

11. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 10 wherein said reservoir is sealed and pressurized.

12. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said cooling means includes means for chilling said reservoir.

13. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said selected liquid is water.

14. The biologically hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 5 further including filter means for filtration of water prior to creation of said ozone bath.

15. A biological hazardous waste treatment mechanism comprising:

a) means for creating an ozone bath of liquid and suspended ozone gas surrounding material contaminated with biological materials;

b) agitation means for mechanically agitating said ozone bath and said material;

c) a drum for holding said ozone bath and said material, said drum having,

1) a primary entry for deposit of said material, and,

2) means for sealing said primary entry;

d) means for pressurizing said drum;

e) detergent adding means for depositing detergent into said drum; and

,

f) control means for,

1) creating a first mixture of an ozone bath with detergent in said drum via said means for creating an ozone bath and said detergent adding means in said drum,

2) agitating the first mixture in said drum via said agitating means,

3) discharging said first mixture from said drum,

4) creating a second mixture of an ozone bath via said means for creating an ozone bath in said drum,

5) agitating the second mixture in said drum via said agitating means, and,

6) emptying the second mixture from said drum.

16. The biological hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said agitation means includes means for generating a sonic vibration in said ozone bath.

17. The biological hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 15 further including means for spinning said drum and wherein said means for emptying the second mixture includes means for simultaneously,

a) discharging liquid from said drum;

and,

b) spinning said drum via said means for spinning.

18. The biological hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 17 further including cooling means for chilling said drum.

19. The biological hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 17 further including a reservoir containing a bath mixture of a selected liquid with ozone gas dispersed therein and wherein said means for creating an ozone bath draws said bath mixture from said reservoir.

20. The biological hazardous waste treatment mechanism according to claim 19 wherein said reservoir is sealed and pressurized.