Disinfecting handle

• US 9,694,739 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Thota, Bhavani, Surman, James J., Salter, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/937,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20170129396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 362487, 362501, 362509-510
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/088 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• 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: B60Q 3/10 for dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0015 Fastening arrangements intended to retain light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources

Abstract

A vehicle handle assembly is provided that includes a light-producing-assembly with a first light source and a second light source. The first and second light sources are configured to emit light of different wavelengths. A photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted by the first light source and a phosphorescent structure is configured to phosphoresce in response to excitation by light emitted by the second light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle handle assembly comprising:

a light-producing-assembly comprising,

a first light source, and

a second light source, wherein the first and second light sources are configured to emit light of different wavelengths;

a photoluminescent structure configured to luminesce in response to excitation by light emitted by the first light source; and

a disinfecting layer configured to activate in response to excitation by light from the second light source for disinfecting the vehicle handle assembly.

2. The vehicle handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the second light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

3. The vehicle handle assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a hiding layer positioned between the light-producing-assembly and the disinfecting layer.

4. The vehicle handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective layer positioned between the disinfecting layer and the light-producing-assembly.

5. The vehicle handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the second light source is configured to not excite the photoluminescent structure.

6. The vehicle handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first light source is a first portion of LEDs and the second light source is a second portion of LEDs and the light producing assembly is configured to emit light toward an interior of a vehicle.

7. A vehicle handle assembly comprising:

a substrate;

a light-producing-assembly comprising first LEDs and second LEDs, the first LEDs configured to emit light of a different wavelength than the second LEDs; and

a disinfecting layer activated based on light of at least one of the first and second LEDs for disinfecting the vehicle handle assembly.

8. The handle assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a protective layer, wherein the protective layer is positioned between the disinfecting layer and the light-producing-assembly.

9. The handle assembly of claim 8, wherein the disinfecting layer comprises TiO₂.

10. The handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the first LEDs are configured to emit light toward the disinfecting layer.

11. The handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the second LEDs are configured to emit light of a wavelength which activates the disinfecting layer.

12. The handle assembly of claim 11, wherein the first LEDs are configured to emit light of a wavelength which does not activate the disinfecting layer.

13. The handle assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a photoluminescent structure, wherein the light from the first LEDs is configured to activate the photoluminescent structure and light from the second LEDs is configured to not activate the photoluminescent structure.

14. A method of disinfecting a vehicle handle comprising the steps of:

providing the vehicle handle comprising a light-producing-assembly having first LEDs and second LEDs;

energizing a disinfecting layer and a phosphorescent structure using light from the second LEDs; and

altering a direction of electrical current across the light-producing-assembly to activate the first LEDs and deactivate the second LEDs.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein activation of the first LEDs excites a photoluminescent structure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein activation of the second LEDs excites a phosphorescent structure.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein altering the direction of electrical current across the light-producing-assembly changes a color of light emitted from the disinfecting handle.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the disinfecting layer comprises TiO₂ and the second LEDs are configured to emit ultraviolet light.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the disinfecting layer is positioned on a protective layer.