Apparatus for cleaning simulated hair articles

• US 7,984,567 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ozone Clean, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ozone Clean, LLC
• Inventors: Bertakis, Christ Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini; Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US12/246,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20100083520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 34/97, 34/98, 341/00, 341/04, 341/05, 342/10, 342/18, 553/45, 553/37, 392/384, 132/329, 705/1, 705/14, 952/17, 601/15
• US Class Current: 34/97
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/00 Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor A45D2/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/04 Hot-air producers A45D20/20, A45D20/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/14 Stands for performing hairdressing work; Postiche heads
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/18 Receptacles for hair brushes or tooth brushes as travelling equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/00 Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0057 by ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a simulated hair article such as a wig or other hairpiece. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing, an ozone generator, an ultraviolet light source, and a gas recirculation structure. The apparatus reduces or eliminates microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungi from the simulated hair article, and also eliminates odors therefrom.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a simulated hair article, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a pair of ends, a wall extending therebetween, a panel, and a door, the housing further comprising a chamber that encloses the simulated hair article while being cleaned and having a compartment separate from the chamber, wherein the compartment is separated from the chamber by the panel, the panel extending across the housing so that the chamber is defined at least in part by the wall of the housing, at least in part by face of the panel, and at least in part by one end of the housing, and the compartment is defined at least in part by the wall of the housing, at least in part by face of the panel, and at least in part by one end of the housing, and wherein the door is opened to provide access to the chamber for placing the simulated hair article therein and wherein the door is closed while the apparatus is operating; and

an electrically powered ozone generator that converts atmospheric oxygen to ozone gas, the ozone generator being located in the compartment and providing ozone gas inside the chamber via a conduit extending from an outlet of the ozone generator to an opening in the panel to help sterilize, disinfect, sanitize, deodorize, or any combination thereof, the simulated hair article by oxidation reactions with microorganisms and other odor-producing substances on the simulated hair article, wherein the apparatus cleans the simulated hair article without the use of water, shampoo, soap, or other liquid cleaning solutions that could substantially alter the shape of the simulated hair article with respect to the shape of the simulated hair article when the simulated hair article is initially placed in the apparatus, wherein the ozone gas converted by the ozone generator is at ambient temperature throughout use of the apparatus and is not otherwise heated above ambient temperature during use of the apparatus, and wherein the simulated hair article is cleaned by the ozone gas while the simulated hair article is in a dry state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ultraviolet light source supported by the housing and emitting ultraviolet light inside the chamber and toward the simulated hair article to help sterilize, disinfect, sanitize, deodorize, or any combination thereof, the simulated hair article.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gas recirculation structure that permits gas to flow from the ozone generator, through the conduit extending from the outlet of the ozone generator to the opening in the panel, through the opening and into the chamber, and back through a second opening in the panel to the inlet of the ozone generator, wherein the gas flowing back through the second opening in the panel includes less ozone gas than the gas flowing through the first opening when the simulated hair article is being cleaned.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pedestal located inside the chamber to support the simulated hair article, the pedestal having a wire-frame to allow ozone gas to contact the simulated hair article on all sides of the simulated hair article.