Sanitizing cabinet for sports equipment

• US 6,889,449 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Silver
• Original Assignee: Steve Silver
• Inventors: Silver, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Esquivel, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O MALLEY, KATHRYN S
• Application Number:
  US10/414,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 343/89, 344/23, 344/86, 344/87, 344/88, 344/89, 344/90
• US Class Current: 34/490
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/022 with provisions for changing the drying gas flow pattern, e.g. by reversing gas flow, by moving the materials or objects through subsequent compartments, at least two of which have a different direction of gas flow varying fan speed F26B21/12
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/14 using gases or vapours other than air or steam , e.g. inert gases
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/06 in stationary drums or chambers

Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for sanitizing sports equipment which comprises a cabinet which can be sealed, first and second conduits in fluid communication with the cabinet, an ozone generator, and fans for circulating ozone containing gas through the conduits into the cabinet, the fans being operative to circulate the ozone containing gas in a first direction and subsequently in a reverse direction. There is also provided a fluid storage device, the fluid storage device being associated with a spray action to spray the fluid into the cabinet after the ozone has been circulated.

Claims

1. A method of sanitizing sports equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

placing said sports equipment within a closed cabinet;

circulating ozone containing air in a first direction through said cabinet for a first period of time;

circulating said ozone containing air in a second direction opposite to said first direction through said cabinet for a second period of time, said cabinet being sealed while said ozone containing air is circulated within said cabinet;

said ozone containing air having an ozone concentration of at least 20 ppm;

stopping all circulation of said air and ozone for a period of time sufficient for said ozone concentration to diminish to less than 3 ppm; and

removing said sports equipment from said cabinet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said ozone containing air has an ozone concentration of at least 50 ppm.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of spraying a mist containing an ozone depleting material into said cabinet following the step of circulating said ozone containing air in a second direction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said ozone depleting agent is a tea tree oil.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said first period of time comprises between 3 and 9 minutes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second time is between 3 and 9 minutes.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said period of time sufficient for said ozone concentration to diminish to less than 3 ppm comprises between 1 and 5 minutes.