Infant stimulation and environment sterilizing device

• US 8,941,078 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jansyl Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jansyl Industries, LLC
• Inventors: Tantillo, Sylvia
• Primary Examiner(s): IPPOLITO, NICOLE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/065,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 250/453.11, 250/454.11, 250/455.11, 250/492.1, 250/493.1, 250/494.1, 250/504.R, 250/504.H, 422/20, 422/21, 422/22, 422/24
• US Class Current: 250/455.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib

Abstract

A cognitive stimulating sterilizing device for providing visual, tactile and, or audible stimulation for infants that also selectively sterilizes select items and the surrounding ambient. This including a housing adapted for removable connection to cribs, changing tables and similar furniture, an ultraviolet light source in the housing for sanitizing items in the housing when closed and the ambient when opened, audio source and compartments for holding and storing select items. The housing may include reflective and/or transparent surfaces for directing and/or passing ultraviolet light. A sensor, such as an infrared sensor, detects the presence of a human in the surrounding area in a motion-independent manner, such as by detecting fluctuations in infrared energy emitted by the human. A microcontroller receives data from the sensor and directs the activation and/or deactivation of the ultraviolet light source according to whether a human is detected.

Claims

1. A cognitive stimulating and sterilizing system for selectively mentally stimulating infants and sanitizing a surrounding area, the system comprising:

a housing having an upper receptacle and lower receptacle;

a support rod for supporting said housing and facilitating movement of said upper and lower receptacles for opening and closing said housing, said rod comprising at least two rods telescopically joined together;

an ultraviolet (UV) light source supported in said housing for generating and emanating ultraviolet light at a wavelength calculated to disinfect objects in the surrounding area; and

a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a human in the surrounding area in a motion-independent manner.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor is an infrared (IR) sensor capable of detecting infrared energy in the surrounding area.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said IR sensor is calibrated to detect infrared energy being emitted in the surrounding area in the range specifically emitted by humans.

4. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said IR sensor is an analog IR sensor capable of detecting infrared energy levels as quantifiable amounts.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a microcontroller in electrical communication with said UV light source and said sensor, and structured to automatically activate and de-activate said UV light source according predefined settings to be detected by said sensor.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein said sensor is an analog IR sensor capable of detecting fluctuations of infrared energy as quantifiable amounts.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said microcontroller directs said UV light source to activate or deactivate based on predetermined threshold levels of infrared energy detected by said sensor.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an actuator in mechanical communication with said sensor and structured to induce mechanical motion of a lens of said sensor, thereby selectively activating said sensor, upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined event.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an alarm in electrical communication with said sensor and programmed to emit a warning when a human is detected within an unacceptable predetermined distance from said UV light source.

10. A cognitive stimulating and sterilizing system for selectively mentally stimulating infants and sanitizing a surrounding area, the system comprising:

a housing having an upper receptacle and lower receptacle;

a support rod for supporting said housing and facilitating movement of said upper and lower receptacles for opening and closing said housing, said rod comprising at least two rods telescopically joined together;

a mounting rod mechanically communicated with said support rod for adjusting and setting a height that said housing is suspended above the surrounding area;

a mounting member connecting said mounting rod to a selected support structure;

an ultraviolet (UV) light source supported by said housing and structured to generate and emanate ultraviolet light at a wavelength calculated to disinfect objects in the surrounding area;

and an infrared (IR) sensor capable structured to detect infrared energy levels indicative of the presence of a living thing in the surrounding area even when the living thing is not in motion.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said IR sensor is calibrated to detect infrared energy being emitted in the surrounding area in the range specifically emitted by warm blooded animals.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said IR sensor includes no lens so as to increase the sensitivity in detecting infrared energy.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said IR sensor is an analog IR sensor capable of detecting and reporting infrared energy levels as quantifiable amounts.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a microcontroller in electrical communication with said UV light source and said IR sensor, and structured to automatically activate and de-activate said UV light source according to predetermined threshold levels of infrared energy as detected by said IR sensor.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to direct said UV light source to activate or deactivate based on predefined fluctuations of infrared energy as detected by said IR sensor.

16. The system as recited in claim 10 further comprising an actuator in mechanical communication with said sensor and structured to induce mechanical motion of a lens of said sensor upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined event, thereby selectively activating said sensor.

17. A cognitive stimulating and sterilizing system for mentally stimulating infants and sanitizing the surrounding, the system comprising:

a housing having an upper receptacle and lower receptacle;

a support rod for supporting said housing and facilitating movement of said upper and lower receptacles for opening and closing said housing;

a mounting rod mechanically communicated with said support rod for adjusting and setting a height that said housing is suspended;

a mounting member connecting said mounting rod to a selected support structure;

an ultraviolet (UV) light source supported in said housing for generating and emanating ultraviolet light at a wavelength calculated to disinfect objects in the surrounding area;

an infrared (IR) sensor capable of detecting infrared energy in the surrounding area; and

a microcontroller in electrical communication with said UV light source and said IR sensor for automatically activating and de-activating said UV light source in response to infrared energy levels in the surrounding area.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said IR sensor includes no lens so as to increase the sensitivity in detecting infrared energy.

19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said IR sensor is an analog IR sensor capable of detecting quantifiable amounts of infrared energy levels and fluctuations in infrared energy levels.

20. The system as recited in claim 17 further comprising an actuator in mechanical communication with said sensor and structured to induce mechanical motion of a lens of said sensor upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined event, thereby selectively activating said sensor.