Footwear sanitizing and deodorizing system
DCFirst Claim
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1. Apparatus for sanitizing human footwear having an opening in which a person'"'"'s foot is inserted to put on the footwear, comprising:
- a light source operable to receive power from a power source and to emit radiation in a wavelength range that sanitizes the footwear by inhibiting growth of or destroying microorganisms present in an interior region of the footwear;
a support for the light source to set it in a sanitization position to direct the radiation to the interior region of the footwear;
a light block arranged to inhibit the radiation from harming an individual proximally located to the footwear during sanitization; and
safety switch circuitry operatively associated with the power source to interrupt delivery of power to the light source upon anticipation of escape from the footwear of an excessive amount of radiation caused by failure of the light block to inhibit the radiation or dislodgment of the light source from the sanitization position.
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Abstract
Introducing ultraviolet (UV) light to activate a light sensitive chemical compound applied to interior portions of footwear alters the environment inside a shoe or other footwear to destroy microorganisms or inhibit their growth. Visible light can also be used to prevent further microorganism growth. Introducing forced air flow through the footwear removes dampness in and thereby deodorizes the footwear. A preferred embodiment comprises an adjustable shoe tree equipped with a UV germicidal light source and electronic safeguards that prevent appreciable leakage of UV radiation outside the shoe.
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9 Claims
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1. Apparatus for sanitizing human footwear having an opening in which a person'"'"'s foot is inserted to put on the footwear, comprising:
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a light source operable to receive power from a power source and to emit radiation in a wavelength range that sanitizes the footwear by inhibiting growth of or destroying microorganisms present in an interior region of the footwear; a support for the light source to set it in a sanitization position to direct the radiation to the interior region of the footwear; a light block arranged to inhibit the radiation from harming an individual proximally located to the footwear during sanitization; and safety switch circuitry operatively associated with the power source to interrupt delivery of power to the light source upon anticipation of escape from the footwear of an excessive amount of radiation caused by failure of the light block to inhibit the radiation or dislodgment of the light source from the sanitization position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification