Sports ball sterilizer

• US 8,193,515 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur Kreitenberg
• Original Assignee: Arthur Kreitenberg
• Inventors: Kreitenberg, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, David E
• Application Number:
  US12/814,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 250/455.11, 2504931-504 R, 422/22, 422/24
• US Class Current: 250/455.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/04 for cleaning balls apparatus for cleaning balls, as accessories for bowling- or table alleys A63D5/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0672 using non-electronic means

Abstract

A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprises a housing; a door for the housing for opening and closing the housing and for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing; a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing. The ball is rotatable in the housing such that the surface of the ball is exposed to the light. An elongated track extends from one end of the housing towards another end, and the light can be elongated from one end towards another end. There can be a support pivot on an outer surface of the housing permits the housing to be rocked about the pivot. There can be a series of rollers and one of the rollers can be motorized to rotate a ball. An outlet from the housing is directed to a tray for receiving a sterilized ball. The housing can include an internal surface with a light reflective material.

Claims

1. A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprising:

a housing;

a door for the housing for opening and closing the housing and for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing;

a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing, the ball being rotatable in the housing relative to the light such that essentially the entire surface of the ball is subjected to exposure from the sterilizing light, and wherein the housing includes an elongated track extending from towards one end of the housing towards another end of the housing, and the sterilizing light is elongated from towards one end of the housing towards another end of the housing, and wherein the housing is sized such that a ball is rollable from a position towards one end to a position towards an opposite end.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track includes a series of rails, and wherein the sterilizing light is located substantially in a position to permit exposure of a ball at different positions of the ball as the ball moves on the rails.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the series of rails are equidistantly arranged about an inside perimeter of the housing, and including a series of sterilizing lights located about an inside perimeter of the housing and equidistantly spaced, and being parallel with the rails.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 including a series of rollers and wherein at least one of the rollers is movable thereby to rotate a ball located on the rollers, and wherein the sterilizing light is located within the inside surface so as to permit a rotatable ball to be exposed to the sterilizing light.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an internal surface, the internal surface being formed, at least in part, with a UVC light reflective material.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1 including a handle to permit portability of the housing, and a portable power source for the system.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1 including a timer for operation with a switch for the light thereby to regulate the duration of light to which a ball is subject.

20. The system as claimed in claim 1 including a chute for receiving a ball, the chute including an inlet located above and outlet, and a travel path between the inlet and outlet, the travel path including at least one bend between the inlet and outlet, and preferably at least two bends, such that a ball traverses the path with a bend between the inlet and outlet, and the sterilizing light is located after the first bend, and where there are two bends before the second bend, and the light being shielded from exposure to the housing.

21. The system as claimed in claim 1 including a chute for receiving a ball, the chute including an inlet located above and outlet, and a travel path between the inlet and outlet, the travel path including a helical track between the inlet and outlet, such a ball traverses the helical path between the inlet and outlet, and the sterilizing light is located selectively at least one of outside or inside of the helical path and extends from an upper location to a lower location.

22. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source is selected to be at least one of an elongated straight light, one or more discreet separate round bulbs, a u-elongated shaped source or a helical shaped source, and wherein the lights are selectively equidistant or non equidistant relative to each other.

23. The system as claimed in claim 1 including a mounting for connection to a wall, the mounting selectively including a pivot mechanism, and selectively there being limiting stops located at angles sufficient to allow the housing to tilt.

24. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track includes a rail, and wherein the sterilizing light is located substantially in a position to permit exposure of a ball at different positions of the ball as the ball moves on the rail.

3. A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprising:

a housing;

a door for the housing for opening and closing the housing and for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing;

a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing, the ball being rotatable in the housing relative to the light such that essentially the entire surface of the ball is subjected to exposure from the sterilizing light, and including a series of rails equidistantly arranged about an inside perimeter of the housing, and including a series of sterilizing lights located about an inside perimeter of the housing and equidistantly spaced.

5. A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprising:

a housing;

a door for the housing for opening and closing the housing and for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing;

a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing, the ball being rotatable in the housing relative to the light such that essentially the entire surface of the ball is subjected to exposure from the sterilizing light, and including a support pivot provided on an outer surface of the housing, whereby the pivot permits the housing to be rocked about the pivot, and wherein the rocking permits a ball inside the housing to move reciprocally from end to end as the ball rotates in the housing.

15. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the housing includes an internal surface, the internal surface being formed, at least in part, with a UVC light reflective material.

6. A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprising:

a housing;

a door for the housing for opening and closing the housing and for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing;

a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing, the ball being rotatable in the housing relative to the light such that essentially the entire surface of the ball is subjected to exposure from the sterilizing light, and wherein the housing includes a roller, and the sterilizing light is located around an internal surface of the housing, and wherein the housing is sized such that a ball is rollable on the roller thereby ensuring expose to the sterilizing light.

16. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing includes an internal surface, the internal surface being formed, at least in part, with a UVC light reflective material.

8. A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprising:

a housing;

an opening for the housing for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing;

a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing, the ball being rotatable in the housing relative to the light such that essentially the entire surface of the ball is subjected to exposure from the sterilizing light, and an outlet from the housing, and a receptacle for receiving a sterilized ball.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the housing includes an elongated track extending from towards one end of the housing towards another end of the housing, and the sterilizing light is elongated from towards one end of the housing towards another end of the housing, and wherein the housing is sized such that a ball is rollable from a position towards one end to a position towards an opposite end.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the track includes a series of rails, and wherein the sterilizing light is located substantially in parallel with the rails.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8 including a series of rails equidistantly arranged about an inside perimeter of the housing, and including a series of sterilizing lights located about an inside perimeter of the housing and equidistantly spaced.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the series of rails are equidistantly arranged about an inside perimeter of the housing, and including a series of sterilizing lights located about an inside perimeter of the housing and equidistantly spaced, and in a position to permit exposure of a ball at different positions of the ball as the ball moves on the rails.

13. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the housing is for location on a support such that the opening is above the outlet, such the ball is movable under gravity between the opening and outlet.

17. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the housing includes an internal surface, the internal surface being formed, at least in part, with a UVC light reflective material.

25. A system for sterilizing a sports ball comprising:

a housing;

an opening for the housing for permitting manual location of a ball in the housing;

a sterilizing light for sterilizing a ball placed in the housing, the ball being rotatable in the housing relative to the light such that essentially the entire surface of the ball is subjected to exposure from the sterilizing light, and wherein the housing includes an elongated track extending from towards one end of the housing towards another end of the housing, and the sterilizing light is elongated from towards one end of the housing towards another end of the housing, and wherein the housing is sized such that a ball is rollable from a position towards one end to a position towards an opposite end.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the track includes a rail, and wherein the sterilizing light is located substantially in a position to permit exposure of a ball at different positions of the ball as the ball moves on the rail.

27. The system as claimed in claim 25 including a chute for receiving the ball, the chute including the opening located above the housing and an outlet, and the elongated track including at least one bend between the opening and outlet, and preferably at least two bends, such that a ball traverses the path with a bend between the opening and outlet, and the sterilizing light is located after the first bend, and where there are two bends before the second bend, and the light being shielded from exposure to the housing.

28. The system as claimed in claim 25 including a receptacle for receiving a sterilized ball.