Abstract:
A disinfecting apparatus comprises a housing, an ultraviolet (UV) light, and a dispensing mechanism. The housing is designed to receive contaminated pens and dispense disinfected pens. The UV light comprises a UVC cold cathode light bulb housed integrally within the housing and an AC power connector. In a preferred embodiment the AC power connector further comprises an ON/OFF switch which controls the UV light bulb. The dispensing means comprises a means of re-obtaining a pen from the housing for subsequent use. Between uses, the pens are immersed in the light of the UV light bulb which helps to kill bacteria and germs associated with illnesses commonly contracted in such public places.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/359,125 filing date Jun. 28, 2010 title of invention UV Disinfecting Apparatus 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention relates generally to article disinfecting apparatus and more particularly, to an ultraviolet disinfecting apparatus for shared writing utensils. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent society, there has been a trend toward increased sanitization of everyday objects and surfaces that one tends to come in contact with. This trend is evidenced by a quick trip to one&#39;s local store, where one will find the shelves lined with antibacterial soap, hand lotion, sanitizer, antibacterial surface cleaner, HEPA air filtration systems and the like. At the same time Methicillin-Resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA) has become a bacterium responsible for hard to treat infections in humans. It has evolved an ability to resist conventional treatment with antibiotics, including penicillin, methicillin and others. The past decade has seen a significant increase in the occurrence of MRSA infections. Various studies have shown that the number of MRSA infections treated in hospitals has doubled from 1995 to 2005. Other findings suggest that MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the U.S. each year than AIDS. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the MRSA bacterium, FLU virus and other germs can be quickly and easily removed from everyday surfaces. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
     A UV disinfecting apparatus is a container for holding shared writing utensils having an integral ultraviolet (UV) light to help kill germs and bacteria. Upon initial observation, the apparatus appears as a conventional pen holder that is placed on a counter for general public use at a hospital, bank, post office, doctor&#39;s office, or the like. However after closer inspection, it can be seen that the interior of the holder is provided with a central ultraviolet lamp. The lamp is powered by an electrical cord that plugs into the wall and controlled through a switch mounted on the cord. Thus, as each pen is placed in the container after use, it is bathed in an encompassing UV light which kills any germs and bacteria that may have been deposited on the pen or writing utensil during use. As such germs that cause infections, illnesses, the flu, and common colds are killed quickly and the pen is left in the cleanest state possible for the next user. The use of the present apparatus allows for the sterilization and cleaning of publicly used writing utensils in a manner that is quick, easy, and effective. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a UV disinfecting apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the UV disinfecting apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  UV disinfecting apparatus 
               15  contaminated writing utensil 
               16  disinfected writing utensil 
               20  enclosure 
               21  front panel 
               22  rear panel 
               23  side panel 
               24  tray 
               30  lid 
               31  slot 
               32  barricade 
               40  guide panel 
               50  rolling dispenser 
               51  groove 
               52  handle 
               60  light 
               61  power cord 
               62  switch 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a UV disinfecting apparatus (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to eradicate microscopic organisms on a contaminated writing utensil  15  which may comprise items such as, but not limited to: a pen, pencil, or the like. The apparatus  10  is envisioned to be utilized in locations heavily trafficked with individuals who utilize public writing utensils which may transfer airborne illness or various other contagious sicknesses such as hospitals, banks, post offices, or the like. The apparatus  10  enables and individual to place a contaminated writing utensil  15  into an enclosure  20  and enable said contaminated writing utensil  15  to be sterilized for subsequent use. The apparatus  10  is particularly suited for eradicating microscopic organisms with UVC radiation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a rectangular enclosure  20  which provides a means to insert a contaminated writing utensil  15  for sterilizing. The enclosure  20  comprises a front panel  21 , a rear panel  22 , a pair of side panels  23 , and a tray  24 . The enclosure  20  houses an internal means of sanitizing (see  FIG. 2 ) and provides a means of displaying the apparatus  10  for use. The apparatus  10  is envisioned to be placed on a level surface such as a desk or other location accessible to various users. The enclosure  20  is envisioned to be fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: plastic, metal or the like. It is envisioned for each panel  21 ,  22 ,  23 , and the tray  24  to be integrally molded, yet other attachment means may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The tray  24  extends outwardly below the front panel  21  and provides a shallow retaining means to a disinfected writing utensil  16 . The disinfected writing utensil  16  is expelled from an underside portion of the front panel  21  into the tray  24  succeeding proper sanitizing via a digit operated handle  52 . In use, the handle  52  is rotated and the disinfected writing utensil  16  is expelled into the tray  24  for additional usage (also see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The apparatus  10  also comprises a removable attachable lid  30  which further comprises a slot  31  which provides an opening for depositing the contaminated writing utensil  15 . The lid  30  is envisioned to be attached to an upper portion of the enclosure  20  via interference fitting means, yet other attachment means may also be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The lid  30  also comprises a barricade  32  which provides a means to block a sterilizing light  60  from exiting the slot  31  and being seen by a user (see  FIG. 2 ). The lid  30  is envisioned to be fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: plastic, metal, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , another perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is depicted herein with the front panel  21  removed for illustration purposes only; it is known that said front panel  21  would be integrally attached to the enclosure  20  to prohibit the light  60  from being viewed by the user. As depicted herein, the lid  30  comprises an arcuate barricade  32  which is utilized to block the light  60  from exiting the slot  31 . The barricade  32  is envisioned to be integrally molded to an underside surface of the lid  30  and is positioned in such as fashion as to obstruct the light  60 . The barricade  32  is fabricated from a material similar to the lid  30 . In use, it is also envisioned for the lid  30  to be removed from the enclosure  20  to access the light  60  for replacement as needed. An internal portion of the enclosure  20  comprises a guide panel  40 , a rolling dispenser  50 , and a light  60 . The guide panel  40  is envisioned to be an arcuate surface which guides the contaminated writing utensil  15  downwardly passing beneath the light  60 . The guide panel  40  routes the contaminated writing utensil  15  to the rolling dispenser  50  which enables a user to extract the disinfected writing utensil  16  from the internal portion of the enclosure  20 . The guide panel  40  is envisioned to be integrally molded into the rear panel  22 , yet other attachment means may be incorporated without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The rolling dispenser  50  comprises a longitudinally positioned groove  51  which accepts the disinfected writing utensil  16 . The rolling dispenser  50  is manipulated via the handle  52  which protrudes from a side panel  23  and is rotated to rotate the groove  51  and the disinfected writing utensil  16  downwardly toward the tray  24  and drop said disinfected writing utensil  16  into said tray  24 . The rolling dispenser  50  comprises a cylindrical-shape which is envisioned to be rotatably attached to each side panel  23 . 
     The light  60  provides a means to sterilize the contaminated writing utensil  15 . The light  60  is preferably an ultraviolet C (UVC) cold cathode illuminating source which is utilized as a germicide, yet other illuminating sources with similar characteristics may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The light  60  is attached to an upper surface of a side panel  23 , yet other locations may be utilized. As the contaminated writing utensil  15  rolls past the light  60  the wavelengths that said light  60  emits eradicates microorganisms on said contaminated writing utensil  15  which produces a disinfected writing utensil  16 . The light  60  is attached to the power cord  61  and provides a digit-operated ON/OFF means to the light  60 . The switch  62  is envisioned to comprise a common thumb-wheel switching means, yet other switching means may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little to no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the apparatus  10 ; positioning the apparatus  10  on a level surface; inserting the power cord  61  into an existing circuit; activating the switch  62  to illuminate the light  60 ; positioning a contaminated writing utensil  15  into the slot  31 ; enabling the contaminated writing utensil  15  to roll on the guide panel  40  and roll pass the light  60 , thereby sterilizing said contaminated writing utensil  15 ; rotating the handle  52  to enable the disinfected writing utensil  16  into the tray  24 ; retrieving the disinfected writing utensil  16  as desired; utilizing the apparatus  10  as desired; removing the lid  30  as necessary to replace the light  60 ; and enabling the apparatus  10  to sterilize and clean publicly used writing utensils in a manner that is quick, easy, and effective. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.