Portable sterilizing apparatus

• US 6,242,753 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Lucent
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Lucent
• Inventors: Sakurai, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wells, Nikita
• Application Number:
  US09/212,963
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 250/504.R, 250/504.H, 250/493.1, 250/455.11
• US Class Current: 250/504.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles

Abstract

A portable sterilizing apparatus has a main housing having a bottom surface, a flange portion formed to extend parallel with the bottom surface, a replaceable sterilizing lamp an irradiating unit having a shade member for supporting the sterilizing lamp pivotally on a top portion of the housing allowing rotation upward from a front surface of the housing. The main housing is provided with a power source and a controller for controlling the conduction of electric power from the power source. The controller comprises an automatic switch, for turning OFF electric power supplied to the irradiating unit when the irradiating unit assumes a closed position, a timer for limiting the operation time of the sterilizing lamp in an open position, a manual switch for turning ON the sterilizing lamp after the passage of the time limited by the timer, and a lamp indicating that the sterilizing lamp is ON.

Claims

1. A portable sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing an object, comprising:

a main housing having an outer surface including, a top, a front side, lateral sides, and a back side;

an irradiating unit including a lampshade member and an ultra violet lamp housed in said lampshade member, said lampshade member defining a lampshade opening via which said ultra violet lamp emits ultra violet radiation onto said object;

a pivot mount for pivotally mounting said irradiating unit to said top of said main housing such that said lampshade member is pivotable from a closed position, whereat said lampshade opening is closed by said front side of said main housing, to an open position whereat said lampshade member is supported with said lampshade opening displaced from said front side of said main housing so as to permit ultra violet radiation from said ultra violet lamp to exit and irradiate said object; and

an electric source controller disposed in said main housing and electrically connected to said ultra violet lamp to effect operation of said ultra violet lamp.

2. The portable sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power source housed in said main housing and connected to said electric source controller for powering said ultra violet lamp.

3. The portable sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said back side of said main housing has a convex shape curved toward the top.

4. The portable sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said pivot mount includes said lampshade member having an end portion and an arm extending therefrom, said arm having opposing sides and a shaft laterally extending from each of said opposing sides; and

said top of said main housing having a recess with sides each defining a hole for accepting said shafts extending from said opposing sides of said arm so as to support said lampshade member at said open position.

5. The portable sterilizing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said irradiating unit has a lamp holder member detachably installed in said end portion of said lampshade member for holding said ultra violet lamp in position in conjunction with said lampshade member, said lamp holder member covering a connection end of said ultra violet lamp to shield electrical connection thereto and being detachable to permit replacement of said ultra violet lamp.

6. The portable sterilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said irradiating unit has a lamp holder member detachably installed in said end portion of said lampshade member for holding said ultra violet lamp in position in conjunction with said lampshade member, said lamp holder member covering a connection end of said ultra violet lamp to shield electrical connection thereto and being detachable to permit replacement of said ultra violet lamp.

7. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said main housing has a depth length between the front side and the back side greater than a lateral length between said lateral sides, and a flange outwardly extending at a lower front portion of said main housing to permit said apparatus to be stood upright with said lampshade member at said open position.

8. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 7 wherein said main housing has a height of about 130 mm, and a bottom including said flange has a depth of about 40 mm, and the lateral length is about 28 mm.

9. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric source controller includes an automatic switch for turning off said ultra violet lamp in response to said irradiating unit being moved to said closed position.

10. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric source controller includes an indicator lamp to indicate said ultra violet lamp is turned on.

11. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said electric source controller includes a timer circuit for limiting operation of said ultra violet lamp to a set time period, and a mannual switch for restarting operation of the timer circuit.

12. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said set time period is 30 sec.

13. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said ultra violet lamp has a power output of 3 W to 5 W and provides ultra violet emission at a wavelength of at least one of 185 and 254 nm.

14. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said irradiating unit pivots from said closed position to said open position through an angle of about 0 to about 150 degrees.

15. A portable sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing an object, comprising:

a main housing having an outer surface including, a top, a front side, lateral sides, and a back side, said main housing being vertically elongated;

an irradiating unit having a radiating aperture through which light is radiated;

a coupling structure for movably mounting said irradiating unit to said main housing such that said irradiating unit is movable from a closed position, whereat said radiating aperture is closed by said front side of said main housing, to an open position whereat said irradiating unit is supported with said radiating aperture displaced from said front side of said main housing so as to permit light to exit and irradiate said object when said object is disposed under said irradiating unit; and

an electrical circuit for distributing electric power to said irradiating unit.

16. The portable sterilizing apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a power source housed in said main housing and connected to said electric circuit for powering said irradiating unit.

17. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 15 wherein said main housing has a flange outwardly extending at a lower front portion of said main housing to permit said sterilizing apparatus to be stood upright with said irradiating unit at said open position.

18. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 17 wherein said electric circuit includes an automatic switch for turning off said irradiating unit in response to said irradiating unit being moved to said closed position.

19. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 15 wherein said electric circuit includes an indicator lamp to indicate said irradiating unit is turned on.

20. The sterilizing apparatus claimed in claim 15 wherein said irradiating unit pivots from said closed position to said open position through an angle of about 0 to about 150 degrees.