Hard-surface disinfection system

• US 8,895,939 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surfacide, LLC
• Original Assignee: Surfacide, LLC
• Inventors: Lyslo, Waldemar John, Schwartz, Mark Howard, Pettis, Stephen Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): IPPOLITO, NICOLE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/043,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 422/20, 422/21, 422/23, 422/24, 250/453.11, 250/454.11, 250/455.11
• US Class Current: 250/455.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

UV hard-surface disinfection system that is able to disinfect the hard surfaces in a room, while minimizing missed areas due to shadows by providing multiple UV light towers that can be placed in several areas of a room such that shadowed areas are eliminated and that can be transported by a cart that is low to the ground such that the towers may be loaded and unloaded easily by a single operator. The system is able to be controlled remotely, such that during activation of the system, no operator is present, and to automatically cut power to all towers in the event that a person enters the room.

Claims

1. A disinfection system capable of disinfecting a space without the use of chemicals comprising:

a plurality of independently placeable light towers, each of said plurality of independently placeable light towers including;

a communications module that sends and receives data from communications modules on the other of said plurality of independently placeable light towers;

an ultraviolet light source;

a controller in data communication with the plurality of light towers, wherein said controller is capable of remotely controlling activation and deactivation of said light towers; and

,

a safety feature capable of shutting off said plurality of independently placeable light towers if movement is detected in said space.

2. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a control station sized and shaped to receive and transport the plurality of independently placeable light towers.

3. The disinfection system of claim 1 further wherein said safety feature comprises a motion sensor.

4. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein said safety feature comprises a shut down signal sent by one of said communication modules to each of the other of said communication modules if motion is sensed.

5. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of each of the plurality of independently placeable light towers comprises a telescoping handle.

6. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable light towers supplies energy to another independently placeable light towers.

7. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein said safety feature comprises a shutdown signal sent from said communication module to said controller and relayed from said controller to the other communication modules of said plurality of independently placeable light towers.

8. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable light towers comprises a fluence sensor.

9. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable light towers comprises a protective sleeve.

10. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of independently placeable light towers comprises an audible element.

11. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a user interface.

12. The disinfection system of claim 1 wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the plurality of placeable light towers.

13. A method for disinfecting an enclosed space comprising:

positioning a plurality of independently placeable light towers throughout an enclosed space;

clearing said space of people;

establishing data communication between a controller and the plurality of independently placeable light towers; and

remotely energizing the plurality of independently placeable light towers with said controller from a position outside of said space;

scanning said space for movement using a safety feature associated with said plurality of independently placeable light towers;

shutting down said plurality of independently placeable light towers automatically if said safety feature detects movement in said space.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of positioning a plurality of independently placeable light towers throughout the enclosed space comprises determining a positioning of the plurality of independently placeable light towers that minimizes creation of shadows within the enclosed space.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of supplying energy to the plurality of independently placeable light towers by connecting said light towers in series such that at least one of the plurality of independently placeable light towers supply energy to another of the plurality of independently placeable light towers.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of establishing data communication between a controller and the plurality of independently placeable light towers comprises employing a wireless network.

17. A hard-surface disinfection system comprising:

a plurality of independent ultraviolet light emitting towers;

a wireless controller that remotely controls the plurality of independent ultraviolet light emitting towers;

wherein said plurality of independent ultraviolet light emitting towers have wheels and connectors such that said towers may be connected together and rolled as a single unit.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the plurality of independent ultraviolet light emitting towers comprises a sensor.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of independent ultraviolet light emitting towers comprises a communications module capable of at least receiving data from said controller.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said communications module comprises a data send function.