Cleaning apparatus using photocatalyst

• US 6,094,767 A
• Filed: 09/25/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keiji Iimura
• Original Assignee: Keiji Iimura
• Inventors: Iimura, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKANE, ELIZABETH L
• Application Number:
  US09/161,013
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 422/22, 15/105, 15/339, 604/20, 601/12, 250/504 H
• US Class Current: 15/105
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/302 Broom
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 11/10 Hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl , seat or cover, e.g. toilet brushes cleaning devices without flushing A47K17/00; mechanical devices for cleaning toilet bowls E03D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/00 Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes suction devices for removing ash F23J1/02; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0606 rigidly anchored brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/23 Solid substances, e.g. granules, powders, blocks, tablets
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0057 by ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/102 for infrared and ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head, a light source and a light guide. The cleaning head has a flexible contact member including photo-activating catalyst (photocatalyst). The light source emits short wave light rays to activate the photocatalyst. The light guide transmits the light rays from the light source to the contact member(brushes). The cleaning head may have a transparent brush supporter to support a group of brushes with many photocatalyst particles. The light guide may preferably include a transparent rod and/or an optical fiber. The cleaning apparatus may be applied for a vacuum cleaner. Therefore, such dirty component can be cleaned as bacteria, molds etc. by use of the cleaning apparatus of the invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus using photocatalyst comprising:

brushing means having a plurality of brushes and a brush supporter to support said brushes;

a plurality of photocatalyst elements; and

wherein at least one of said brushes is composed of a core and said core includes a plurality of said photocatalyst elements.

2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1:

wherein said brush supporter is made of transparent material; and

wherein said brush supporter has at least a light-reflecting layer.

3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements.

4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements; and

wherein said light source is composed of at least a light-emitting semiconductor.

5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements;

wherein said light source is composed of at least a light emitting semiconductor; and

wherein said light emitting semiconductor is included in said brushing means.

6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least a light guide member or optical fiber having a first end for light entrance and a second end for light exit; and

wherein light input into said first end is transmitted to said second end and is output to said brushing means.

7. A cleaning apparatus using photocatalyst comprising:

brushing means having a plurality of brushes and a brush supporter to support said brushes;

a plurality of photocatalyst elements; and

wherein at least one of said brushes is composed of a core and a sheath to cover said core, and said sheath includes a plurality of said photocatalyst elements.

8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7:

wherein said brush supporter is made of transparent material; and

wherein said brush supporter has at least a light-reflecting layer.

9. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements.

10. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements; and

wherein said light source is composed of at least a light-emitting semiconductor.

11. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements;

wherein said light source is composed of at least a light emitting semiconductor; and

wherein said light emitting semiconductor is included in said brushing means.

12. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least a light guide member or optical fiber having a first end for light entrance and a second end for light exit; and

wherein light input into said first end is transmitted to said second end and is output to said brushing means.

13. A cleaning apparatus using photocatalyst comprising:

brushing means having a plurality of brushes and a brush supporter to support said brushes;

a plurality of photocatalyst elements;

said brush supporter being made of transparent material;

a plurality of light diffusing elements embedded in said brush supporter; and

wherein said photocatalyst elements are included in at least one of said brushes.

14. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13:

wherein at least one of said brushes is composed of a core or a combination of a core and a sheath to cover said core; and

said core and/or said sheath includes said photocatalyst elements.

15. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13:

wherein said brush supporter has at least a light-reflecting layer.

16. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13:

wherein said light diffusing elements are composed of light reflecting pigments; and

wherein said light reflecting pigments are made of the material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, aluminum, calcium carbonate and barium carbonate.

17. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements.

18. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements; and

wherein said light source is composed of at least a light-emitting semiconductor.

19. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least a light source emitting light capable of activating said photocatalyst elements;

wherein said light source is composed of at least a light emitting semiconductor; and

wherein said light emitting semiconductor is included in said brushing means.

20. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least a light guide member or optical fiber having a first end for light entrance and a second end for light exit; and

wherein light input into said first end is transmitted to said second end and is output into said brushing means.