Ultraviolet sanitation device

• US 8,029,739 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F., Pouliot, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley; Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, REGINA M
• Application Number:
  US10/909,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,622 Days
• Field of Search: 422/291, 422/292, 422/243, 422/22, 422/24
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/283 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/405 Machines using UV-lamps, IR-lamps, ultrasound or plasma cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4097 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Exhaust-air treatment, e.g. air purification; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/042 the loading means being an endless belt or an auger

Abstract

A sanitation device includes a mobile body, a surface cleaning component, and a source of UV radiation. The surface cleaning component and the source of UV radiation are mounted to the mobile body, which is configured to travel over a surface. The surface cleaning component is configured to engage the surface and the source of UV radiation is configured to direct UV radiation to the surface.

Claims

1. A sanitization device comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;

a cleaning liquid dispensing system supported on the mobile body and configured to dispense a cleaning liquid to the surface;

a squeegee coupled to a rear side of the mobile body and configured to engage the surface;

a rotatable scrubber mounted to the mobile body and configured to scrub the surface;

a source of UV radiation attached to the mobile body and positioned at a rear side of the squeegee, the source of UV radiation configured to direct UV radiation to the surface;

a tank mounted to the mobile body; and

a vacuum supported by the mobile body and configured to remove liquid from the surface that is collected by the squeegee and deposit the liquid into the tank.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second source of UV radiation configured to direct the UV radiation onto the rotatable scrubber.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second source of UV radiation configured to direct UV radiation into the tank.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the UV radiation has a wavelength of less than 280 nm.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein a power consumption of the source automatically varies in accordance with a speed at which the mobile body travels.

6. The device of claim 1 including a shroud covering sides of the source that do not face the surface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the source is configured to direct a dosage of UV radiation to the surface of less than 60 mW/cm².